We are now in the second month of a brand new year! Some of us have already made resolutions, promises or goals. Whether you made a resolution or not, in addition to promising to make a change, why not start something new! It might be a new hobby, a new habit, new behavior or new attitude. This Winter 2009 issue of The UP Times Quarterly is devoted to starting something new. I believe God has great things in store for all of us. Even in the midst of a storm, God is able to do above and beyond what we can imagine.
Stepping out of our comfort zones can be challenging and at times overwhelming and intimidating, but oh so rewarding. Trying something new can lead to exciting things that you would never have experienced. Plus, it gives us more opportunities to rely totally on our Heavenly Dad.
So what’s going to be my new thing? I’ve always wanted to try my hand at jewelry making, but always made excuses: I’m too busy, I’m not creative enough. I’ll start by checking out some books at my local library and plan to take a class at my local community college or my city’s recreation center. I’ll report sometime later in the year how I’m doing.
What’s your new thing? Click here to share
Monday, February 23, 2009
Rest from a Busy and Noisy Life
In today’s world, we are constantly busy. Technology has given us nearly-instant communication and transportation. We are always doing something – we have continuous access to entertainment at our fingertips. Our world is also filled with noise. Radios, i-pods, and cd players give us constant access to music, while cell phones ensure that even when we are alone, we always have someone to talk to. We have become a generation of multi-taskers. We spend very little time in silence, whether we are at home chilling or stuck in traffic. We are surrounded by a busy, noisy society that places very little value on peaceful silence and reflection. The more we fill our lives with noise and activity, the fewer opportunities we give ourselves for quiet prayer and reflection.
It is important for us to slow down and take some time to grow closer to God. The more time we spend in silence, the better we are able to hear God. 1 Kings 19:12, says “After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
Read the entire article.
Gwen Smith shares a devotional on resting in the Lord.
It is important for us to slow down and take some time to grow closer to God. The more time we spend in silence, the better we are able to hear God. 1 Kings 19:12, says “After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
Read the entire article.
Gwen Smith shares a devotional on resting in the Lord.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Valentine Gift for Hubby
A valentine gift does not always need to put a dent in your purse. Barbara Rainey shared some ideas on how we can please our wonderful husbands not only at Valentines day, but all during the year.
Read the entire article
Share your favorite gift that you like to give to your valentine
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Change: Are You Due for a Perceptual Paradigm Shift
It’s a new year and we are all evaluating in what areas of our lives God is dealing with us.
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD”. (Lamentations 3:40)
Many people experience a deep-seated change when they face a life-threatening crisis. They suddenly see their priorities in a different way, their values change, their thinking about themselves change, and their feelings are modified. They may assume a new and different role. Everything changes. Why wait until tragedy or trauma forces you to update your perceptions. Do it now-by conscious choice-and enjoy the results.
To begin a true change in the way you think about yourself, your body, and/or your life, the journey begins with your relationship with the Lord. You must know Him as Lord and Savior. If you have not made that decision yet, click here.
So what is a perceptual paradigm shift anyway? In order to fully understand the concept, let’s look at each term separately. Perceptual is an adjective meaning of or relating to the act of perceiving—perception: insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving. Perception is therefore, all about point of view; your current interpretation based upon your particular reality. The term paradigm shift was coined in 1962 by Thomas Kuhn in his classic book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. A paradigm shift is a dramatic change in methodology or practice—a change in the way things are.
From this perspective then, a perceptual paradigm shift is a change in your believe system, a change in your basic core beliefs—what you grew up believing about yourself. In what areas will God ask you to change this year?
This leg of our journey is all about identifying and committing to changing the way we think or behave toward different aspects of our lives. Perhaps you may want to shift from a reacting nature to a more responsive one. For example, suppose you are someone who tends to become upset and react emotionally to the behavior or language of others. You react to your own emotions by avoiding certain people, becoming bitter or cynical and/or withdrawing all together, placing the blame on others. You are controlled by external events and become judgmental, your perspective narrows, and/or your mind becomes closed.
When you change to a more responding nature, you become aware that you have the freedom to choose how to respond to any given event. You will become more self-controlled and autonomously choose your own actions and behavior. You will step away from the role of victim, become response-able and take full responsibility for the consequences of your choices and actions.
Reflection:
What perceptual paradigms are you willing to identify? Attitudes, thought patterns, habits, behaviors.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”. (Psalm 139:23)
Action Plan:
Which ones are you willing to challenge or change? Think beyond the box.What techniques are you willing to use to modify your perceptual paradigms?
Share your thoughts with the group.
Click here to go deeper.
References:
Answers.com
Total Life Coaching, Patrick Williams and Lloyd Thomas, 2005, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD”. (Lamentations 3:40)
Many people experience a deep-seated change when they face a life-threatening crisis. They suddenly see their priorities in a different way, their values change, their thinking about themselves change, and their feelings are modified. They may assume a new and different role. Everything changes. Why wait until tragedy or trauma forces you to update your perceptions. Do it now-by conscious choice-and enjoy the results.
To begin a true change in the way you think about yourself, your body, and/or your life, the journey begins with your relationship with the Lord. You must know Him as Lord and Savior. If you have not made that decision yet, click here.
So what is a perceptual paradigm shift anyway? In order to fully understand the concept, let’s look at each term separately. Perceptual is an adjective meaning of or relating to the act of perceiving—perception: insight, intuition, or knowledge gained by perceiving. Perception is therefore, all about point of view; your current interpretation based upon your particular reality. The term paradigm shift was coined in 1962 by Thomas Kuhn in his classic book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. A paradigm shift is a dramatic change in methodology or practice—a change in the way things are.
From this perspective then, a perceptual paradigm shift is a change in your believe system, a change in your basic core beliefs—what you grew up believing about yourself. In what areas will God ask you to change this year?
This leg of our journey is all about identifying and committing to changing the way we think or behave toward different aspects of our lives. Perhaps you may want to shift from a reacting nature to a more responsive one. For example, suppose you are someone who tends to become upset and react emotionally to the behavior or language of others. You react to your own emotions by avoiding certain people, becoming bitter or cynical and/or withdrawing all together, placing the blame on others. You are controlled by external events and become judgmental, your perspective narrows, and/or your mind becomes closed.
When you change to a more responding nature, you become aware that you have the freedom to choose how to respond to any given event. You will become more self-controlled and autonomously choose your own actions and behavior. You will step away from the role of victim, become response-able and take full responsibility for the consequences of your choices and actions.
Reflection:
What perceptual paradigms are you willing to identify? Attitudes, thought patterns, habits, behaviors.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”. (Psalm 139:23)
Action Plan:
Which ones are you willing to challenge or change? Think beyond the box.What techniques are you willing to use to modify your perceptual paradigms?
Share your thoughts with the group.
Click here to go deeper.
References:
Answers.com
Total Life Coaching, Patrick Williams and Lloyd Thomas, 2005, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
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