Some section hands on a British railroad found a thrush’s nest under a rail. Peacefully sitting on her eggs, the hen was undisturbed by the roar of the fast trains above and around her. Someone has written a little verse which goes:
“Said the robin to the sparrow,
‘I should really like to know,
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.’
Said the sparrow to the robin,
‘Friend, I think that it must be,
That they have no heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me.'”
Jesus used the carefree attitude of the birds to underscore the fact that worrying is unnatural. I am learning in my own life, day by day, to keep my mind centered on Christ, and the worries and anxieties and concerns of the world pass, and nothing but “perfect peace” is left in the human heart. God has taken the responsibility for our care and worry.

“Grace,” according to the dictionary, is the unmerited favor of God toward mankind. The word “grace” is used over 170 times in the New Testament alone. Grace is not bought. It is a free gift of almighty God to needy mankind. When I picture Jesus Christ dying on the cross, I see the free gift of God’s grace in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. I sing with the songwriter, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” Your human mind, with its philosophy of an equal return for favors done, can hardly comprehend the full meaning of this grace of God. But when you catch, by the inspiration of God, its full meaning, you will leave the limits of human reasoning and revel in the spiritual riches of divine truth and privilege.
Yes, the grace of God is a reality. Thousands have tried, tested, and proved that it is more than a cold creed, a docile doctrine, or a tedious theory. The grace of God has been tested in the crucible of human experience, and has been found to be more than an equal for the problems and sins of humanity.

Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a Muslim man. He is a very outgoing, but somewhat strict Muslim. We talk very often about Muslim culture versus Christian culture. He loves to tell me all about how things work in the Muslim world from how people become exiled to who the most famous Muslims are. During that time, he also discusses with me about the challenges of being a Muslim in today's world living in the United States. I absolutely love talking with him about his life!

Through our conversations, I enjoy letting him know how I, as a Christian, might address those problems. I also discuss solutions to his problems that the Bible already has answers to along with similarities between the Bible and the Koran. Lastly, I talk with him about how since the Koran already discusses Jesus, it is always a good idea to read about Him in the Bible because it gives so much more detail than the Koran. It actually points an arrow directly toward the Bible so someone can find out more information on this mysterious Jesus the Koran talks about! What an honor and a blessing to have these discussions, because it is only through love, tolerance, and acceptance of others that we can engage in meaningful, and even fun, conversation that is Christ centered. I don't want to bring Jesus to people, because it is my religion or its "just how things should be," but because Jesus saves my life day after day and I seek for others to discover the true Christ and to see what he can do for them.

One day I meditated on God and asked him, Lord, what should we do about all this hate in the world;  these shootings, bombings, and fear mongering? He answered with the simplest, yet most profound, words I could have imagined. He said "Love. Just love. Pour into the streets and just bring My love to everyone you meet." See, we don't need to prove our religion to people. We just need Jesus to speak through our hearts and hands, letting the Holy Spirit guide them from there. In time, they will learn God's covenants, but today, our goal is to just show them what Christ's love is. We don't even need words, necessarily! Just love; but when they ask why it is we have such great love, answer, it is because of my master, and savior, Jesus Christ. 

Man condemns himself by his refusal of God’s way of salvation. In love and mercy, God is offering to men and women a way of escape, a way of salvation, a hope and anticipation of better things. Man in his blindness, stupidity, stubbornness, egotism, and love of sinful pleasure, refuses God’s simple method of escaping the pangs of eternal banishment. Suppose you were sick and called a doctor who came and gave you a prescription. But after thinking it over you decided to ignore his advice and to refuse the medicine. When he returned a few days later, he might have found your condition much worse. Could you blame the doctor? Could you hold him responsible? He gave you the prescription, he prescribed the remedy. But you refused it!
​
Just so, God prescribes the remedy for the ills of the human race. That remedy is personal faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. The remedy is to be “born again.” If we deliberately refuse it, then we must suffer the consequence; and we cannot blame God. Is it God’s fault that we refuse the remedy?

I received a letter from a man in Charlotte, North Carolina. He said that, until our Charlotte Crusade, he was filled with hatred, bitterness, and prejudice toward people of another race. He had joined one of the extremist organizations and was on the verge of engaging in violence. Out of curiosity he came to the meetings, and one night he was gloriously converted. He said, “All bitterness, hatred, malice, and prejudice immediately left me. I found myself in the counseling room sitting beside a person of another race. Through my tears I gripped the hand of this man, whom a few hours before I would have detested. My racial problem has been solved. I now find that I love all men regardless of the color of their skin.”
​
Only Christ can solve the complicated racial problem that is facing the world today. Until people of all races come to accept Christ as Savior, they do not have the ability to love each other. Christ can give supernatural love, which enables you to love even those whom you otherwise could not love.

One thing we all struggle with is the relationships that exist in our lives and how to handle each one. All the relationships we have are different and they all require a specific level of finesse. Whether you could use some work in your own personal inventory or you are great at dealing with people, chances are there is someone you love who isn't exactly easy to love. Nothing you do or say seems to change the trajectory of that relationship and you are wondering if there is anything you can do. The fact is sometimes there isn't! It's important, however, when you are trying to find life transformation to settle these issues, whether it means you repair a relationship or simply move on guilt-free so you can be free to begin finding the joy and solace you deserve! Let's begin:

Is that person capable of providing what you need?
Whether it is love or acceptance, guidance, or a bro to have a beer with on a Friday night, every relationship has a purpose to each individual. It's what initially brings us together and this purpose can change, but for a relationship to function, there must be an overriding motivation to secure the relationship. If you generally just like the person, a motivation must be found or the relationship will diminish naturally. A mission is needed, so to speak. This eliminates the need to feel emotional when relationships start fading away when you acknowledge that a new purpose to the relationship only needs to be found. Wearing our heart on our sleeve and overreacting emotionally to the ever changing needs of that relationship is often what drives people apart. No matter how close that person is, if a motivation to spend time with each other cannot be found, a relationship cannot exist. If you want someone in your life, you must ask what it is that you are looking for and if that person is capable of providing it. If not, don't feel angry or guilty about it. Simply find fulfillment in other ways until you can find that motivation. If that person actually cares about you, they aren't going anywhere.

Secondly, are YOU capable of providing what the other person is looking for? Often, this is where the feelings of hurt come in. We so want to have a friendship with someone, that we forget that the other person has needs and wants as well. We feel like failures if we suddenly can't be what that person wants. If they are looking for a casual "go out" kind of friend and you are more of a stay-home-and-be-with-family type person, you could understand why this relationship could struggle. Change would be needed in this case. Either they would have to be comfortable coming over to your house and maybe watching movies and playing games or you would have to learn to be comfortable going out on the weekend OR you could find a new commonality altogether. Perhaps you both love football and enjoy watching the games together.

Activity:
Make a list of all the people you would like to get into a comfortable place with and ask yourself what you would like that person to provide you with (companionship, daily interaction, occasional outings, travel, leadership, sense of belonging, etc). Then ask what that person is actually capable of providing you along with checking off the following questions in this article.

Are you ready to let the past go? Are they?
To move on in any relationship, past wrongs and errors by either party cannot have a place once addressed. By dwelling on these things, it acts like an energy vacuum. All joy and fulfillment you could be feeling will be polluted by not moving past exactly that...the past. Anger, rage, and holding grudges will end relationships as fast as they begin, no matter how close a relationship is, so you and the other person must be committed to letting the past go. Forgive and forget. For tips on forgiveness, please see my other article called "Forgiveness: Letting Go of Toxic Emotions."

Are you capable of setting boundaries and defending them tactfully?
For any relationship to flourish, boundaries must be set and lovingly defended. There is a reason why the relationship didn't work before so now that you know what you know, don't be afraid to tell that other person what you will and won't accept. After all, boundaries are part of who you are and your identity as a whole.

Recently, a friend discussed with me about the relationship between him and his mother. She often would drudge up his past mistakes, other family member's mistakes, her grudges, etc. He explained to her that discussing these topics is a boundary that couldn't be crossed and it strengthened their relationship when he agreed he would not accept it. They moved on and started having a very loving relationship. Over the course of several years, he let his guard down and because of his love for her, began allowing her to slowly creep in with her negative comments about the past as well as about the pasts of other family members as well. He began feeling alienated from her and once again, the relationship fell apart because of resent and anger from both sides.

Can you commit to action without letting emotion get in the way?
Restarting a relationship or addressing relationship issues is not easy. Are you ready to commit yourself to action? This involves making the decision that under no circumstances will you let emotion such as anger or sadness get in the way of progress. There will be times you may want to run and hide or even go down in a burning flame, but MINDFULNESS is key here. Since the relationship may already be fragile, you can bet that person's ways have not changed in the least bit. Expect that, but remember, in order to heal the relationship or make amends you must move past the past, set those boundaries, and commit to action.

Are you ready to listen to how they feel?
You may need to accept the fact that there may be something that has caused someone to take distance from you. It may not even be valid, but even if it isn't, you need to be ready to listen to what caused them to take that distance. You need to remember that the other person is doing nothing wrong by FEELING a certain way. Most people cannot help how they feel unless they are very practiced in mindful thinking. Many times, just by listening to how that person feels, situations may sometimes go from confusing to completely understandable.

Once while working as a manager at a retail store, I noticed a cashier that would always seem very shy and coy around me. She would always look incredibly nervous around me and it made me feel uneasy when being around her. I would see her change from appearing comfortable and candid to uptight. I could see her smile fading as I approached. Since she seemed inapproachable, I decided to ask about it to some of the other cashiers who knew her well. The answer I received was equal parts hurtful but also helpful. I was told that she felt as if I didn't like her. I couldn't imagine not liking her, in fact, I thought she had a great attitude and personality. What she didn't realize was that I kept myself very guarded around those I supervise so as to not give the wrong impression. If either one of us would have been willing to talk and listen sooner, instead of relying on insecurity and emotion, this problem could have been solved much earlier.

Are you ready to release your own guilt and shame?
Once you have apologized for your own actions in the past, all you can do is look forward to the future. You MUST release your guilt or shame. This continuous torment will constantly cause you to flee and ruin any chances you had with repairing that relationship. You don't have to overcompensate for your past actions or apologize endlessly. You cannot change what happened and you don't have to be a prisoner. The only thing you can do personally is acknowledge anything you did to harm the relationship, apologize, and change your actions. No matter what you've done, this is all the other person could ever want from you and if not, the real issue lies with them and they must overcome it in their own way, separate of anything you could do or say to change how they feel. You must release yourself at that point. Your joy depends on it.

In a nutshell, if you can find commonality with someone, let go of previous hurtful actions, set boundaries, commit to action, get past guilt, and start listening, there isn't any reason why you can't either flourish in a friendship, or at the very least, find common ground with someone. The choice is ultimately up to you, but whether you choose to just make peace or repair a friendship, it must always be for the sake of joy and hope. Good luck to you, my dear friends in all that you do and may you be blessed with abundant joy. 

If you are interested in learning more about life transformation techniques, please be sure to check out my life transformation programs at www.searchlightorganization.com/transformation. For additional articles please see my other articles here.

​Author: Jason Cook
Searchlight Organization
​www.searchlightorganization.com
Copyright-July 31, 2019

Have you ever had a moment where, because something you read or heard about on the news made you sad, upset, or even angry? Perhaps, a shock post on Facebook startled you. Various studies have shown that the images we look at on the news or on social media can affect our moods and even our mental health  (https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/social-media-linked-rise-mental-health-disorders-teens-survey-finds-n982526). The shows we watch, the songs we listen to, and the movies we entertain ourselves with all serve to affect us in some way.

This morning I was listening to a local radio show called "Love 'em or List 'em." On the show, a lady called in to discuss her friend, who she labeled as "clingy." She was talking how the person was invading her personal space, inviting herself with the caller's family on vacation, and wanting to see the caller nearly every day. She was looking for justification and an answer from other callers about if she should remove the person from her life. Consequently, I started thinking about my own "falling out" situation I personally had with a best friend. He was a friend that I deeply cared for that I no longer see due to his influence on my life and how he made me feel when in his presence. Because of this radio show, I began rehashing many of the conversations we shared, disagreements that occurred, and reliving all those painful moments. Then kicked in the need to want to fix something, but I had to remember, I separated myself for a reason and it was a good one. I had already fixed this problem.

After giving myself a moment to feel, I had to remind myself that thinking on it is not productive. Just like when watching the news and I find myself reading the extra gory details of a local crime. Beyond hearing about the incident, do I really need to bother myself with reading about every move the killer made, what weapon he used, and how it affected the victim's family, just so I can begin obsessing about the safety of my own family? Absolutely not.

The problem is that the media and news carries with it "energy." When something causes you to start thinking negatively about your own life such as second guessing your friends, wondering if it is time to move, if you should begin preparing for a perceived disaster when it isn't really justified, or if you should start homeschooling your kids because a teacher in Texas assaulted a student along with other irrational thoughts, we should ask ourselves, is the energy or messages we are receiving from the media a good and positive influence on our lives? Is it bringing with it love, positive energy, and hope or is it bringing hate, divisiveness, and anger? Don't get me wrong, however. It is important to keep up on local issues, but it is when we begin internalizing that negative energy and making it one with our own that a problem is created. 

This problem is the negative mindset we may slip into about our surrounding world and environment from the constant barrage of negativity coming from these external sources.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

This is our shield and we must keep it on at all times. By reading scripture, meditating in prayer, reading books that bring us hope, pondering good things, staying away from the details of negative news, and working on a goal program, we can fend off the energies that seek to remind us of a darker world in which we have the ability to  create ourselves, depending on what we focus on. We also have the ability to create a world of excitement, joy, and beauty also, if that is what we want, because it is our thoughts that shape our world.

If you are interested in improving your life through setting goals, learning ancient wisdom, and taking control over your life now, take a moment to check out my life-improvement programs at www.searchlightorganization.com/transformation

Author: Jason Cook
​Searchlight Organization
Copyright, 2019

According to research, the average person uses social media more than 2 hours per day (globalwebindex, 2018). This might include perusing Facebook, displaying photos on Snapchat, or shouting out on Twitter. Let's take a look at how this might fit in with our other daily responsibilities and see what kind of impact something as frivolous as social media may have on your productivity:

Facebook: 2 hrs
Sleep: 8
Work: 8
Commuting: 1 hr
Eating and Cooking: 2 hrs
Chores and Maintenance: 1 hr
Business Priorities: 1 hr
Favorite Television Show: 1 hr

Total hrs: 24
Time left to achieve goals? 0

After reviewing a typical working person's schedule, notice there is no time left over for any personal achievement? If this person wanted to begin filling out resumes, volunteering, or work on mental health, that could take up several hours per day, there would be no other option than to cut back on something.

Here are a few tricks you could use to become the "Pro" of productivity and get achieving more in your life:

• Limit social media time to when you are on lunch, commuting, or give yourself 15 minutes in the morning, but make sure to leave your evening social media free to prevent hours of use. This will add nearly 2 hours to your regular productive day.
• Limit entertainment. We've all binge watched. Leave this for the weekends! I, personally, have a policy at home that says that I cannot watch television or use the computer for entertainment on any week night. This basically freed up my entire schedule.
• During the week, make sure cooking times are kept to a minimum by making easier meals or preparing during the weekend.
• Put a time-limit on chores, even if it doesn't get done. Your time is a precious commodity.
• Reduce commute time. Are you taking the bus and could potentially drive or car-pool? Perhaps you have the option to work from home.
• How much do you sleep? Of anything, if you need more than 8 hours of sleep a night or take frequent naps, this could really cut into your ability to be productive. If you are dragging after a full night of sleep, you may want to question if you have a sleep disorder: (https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-disorders-warning-signs#diagnosis)
• Lastly, use the small moments. Do you have a job that has downtime throughout the day or maybe you have a 1 hour lunch break? Use this time to read educational articles or making phone calls that are vital to achieving your goal.

With a little discipline, you would be surprised at how much more you'll accomplish and how great you'll feel! If you would like to start conquering your goals and begin living a life of achievement, feel free to check out my goal achievement programs at: www.searchlightorganization.com/transformation.

Author: Jason Cook
Searchlight Organization
Copyright, 2019