There is something about the world that we live in that just seems to produce negativity.  It is all around us!  Turn on the television and it is there.  Read the newspaper and smacks you in the face.  Listen to most conversations long enough and it will make its appearance.

With all of the negativity, it is easy to become negative yourself, without even realizing it.  Here are five negatives that I have learned from negativity that I’ve often  allowed into my life:

1.)  Negative Complaining Digs The Hole Deeper! When you find yourself in a hole, the temptation is to complain about the hole you are in.  This negativity does not help you to get out of the hole, but instead digs the hole deeper, making it harder for you to work your way out of it on your on!

2.)  Finding Someone To Blame Is Not A Solution! When things are not working the way we want them to or think they should, we often look for someone to blame it on.  Even if someone else is to blame, playing the blame games does not help, it only hinders by wasting time and much-needed energy!

3.)  A Bad Attitude Messes Up More Than You Know! One of the most important commodities that you posses it your attitude.  If it gets messed up, then everything else is going to get messed up.  Attitude is the first of many dominos – it can be beautiful or a big mess!

4.)  Negativity Is Blinding To Positiveness! When we are negative, it is very hard for us to see any positive around us and often the result is just more negativity.  Even when life is working against you, look for the positive and find the strength, wisdom and direction you need to drive out of the bad and to a better place!

5.)  Critical Attracts Critical! When we have a critical, negative and complaining spirit, we need to understand that this spirit attracts like spirits.  Negative attracts negative and complaining attracts complaining!  Before long, it’s not just your problem, but you with a bunch of other problems and no good attitude to help fix any of it!

The best way to deal with negative is with positive!  It’s your choice, so make it wisely!

Netflix is a pretty cool service for that you can have at home.  For around $6 a month you can have access to all kinds of movies and tv shows that will stream to your tv instantly via the internet!  We have it and we have really taken advantage of the convenience of having ready access 24/7!

Netflix is cool, but do you want to know something even better than Netflix?   Have you ever stopped to think that God provided us with 24/7 access to His Word?  Most of us have our own copy and now there are all kinds of tools via the internet that allow you to read, study and even get direction from others concerning God’s Word and how it applies to the living out of our lives.

One of my favorite tools is YouVersion!  This is a Bible Reader community that also has an assortment of reading plans that will help you to read daily and be accountable for making sure that you take the time to read what you are supposed to.  I use it everyday, multiple times during the day and the most exciting thing is that everyone can have 24/7 access from their computer, ipad, phone or other portable device for FREE!  Check it out and get the advantages that this tool, utilizing the most important tool of all can bring into your life!

Let me know what you think and remember to G3!

Anyone that has been a pastor for any amount of time can tell you that some Mondays are really tough, because often there is a big let down from Sunday to Monday.  On Sunday we often find ourselves on a spiritual high with the preaching, teaching, leading and encouraging of our congregation, but by Monday, we are physically, spiritually and mentally exhausted and the enemy knows this and so he begins his relentless attacks to tear us down and take us out.

Some Mondays are worse than others!  This is one of those Mondays!  I have spent a good part of the morning, just pouring my heart out to God and begging for His guidance, help and peace.  I have a headache, an impossible schedule, more needs than I have time to try to meet, work that has to be done, obligations that have to be kept and an ever-growing mountain of things to do that are become things that have to be done!

It gets overwhelming fast and it is really easy to feel like you are drowning.  This seems like a very bad place to be, but it really is a great place to be, because from this place, there is no where else to go, except straight into the arms of our loving Creator!

In His arms, I am reminded that He has this!  In His arms, I am reminded that He is with me and will not leave me.  In His arms, I am reminded that He will use all of this to grow me for His glory.  In His arms, I find the peace that I am longing for and in His arms, I find the victory that only He can give me!

God is faithful and even though I sometimes have to battle the demon called depression, ultimately I will come out on top and be better because of the struggle!  I hate the struggle, but the struggle helps me to be more dependent and trusting of my Savior.  The struggle grows and develops my faith and with my faith strengthened, I am ready to take on whatever else might be coming my way!