Catalyst...Part 1

When I was younger, I loved reading the book title The Way Things Work and always learning new things. Through this book and many other life experiences, I have had the opportunity to learn about how things works, cause and effect, interactions between two or more things. One component of all these things I've learned is that each requires a Catalyst. With a catalyst, something will have an effect on something else. You may not always know what will happen but you'll need to anticipate it.

My church started a new series this week called Catalyst: Anticipate What's Going to Happen. We discussed some of the core catalytic christian beliefs or God's deeply held beliefs. One that was focused on in the sermon was based on the following: Nothing I do or that I have done can earn or help merit my salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This catalyst, if believed, will affect the decisions that I make in my life. This deeply held belief is a foundation of God's working in my life and my personal spiritual development. I for one do believe in this catalyst - that nothing I do can earn or help merit my salvation. Works one earth does not 'get me farther' than someone else.

When you bottom line it, if you believe in these beliefs, you are drawn closer to God. It was stated, the more I [you] understand the beliefs, or for example, Grace, the closer you are to God.

So what does this mean? Living a Godly life is not about what I do, where I volunteer or the attempt to impress people. Instead, its about being Christ-like in all I do and continually seeking after Him through everything I do. Could this be through volunteering or acts of service? It could but doesn't have to be.

Take this and ponder it yourself and see how it impacts or changes your life. I've noticed a difference already.

Things I'm pondering...
...Attitude has a great impact on ones life....
...I'm hoping to find new ways to travel economically...
...I find opportunities to help people...its just a gift...and that's good, right?...

I'm really gonna try now...

How many times have I attempted to start a new thread of blogs with high hopes of having a more consistent, or should I say frequent, posting regime. Well, lets give this a try again.

I'm going to start a new topic shortly but first, with regard to my last post...regarding (wow, just used regarding twice)...living life to the fullest.

Have I done it? Yes...to some extent but not to the fullest. Will I attempt to do this in the future, absolutely. When will I start? I'd like to say today, but its late at night, so will tomorrow work? Sure will. But I gotta do it.

So, a new topic....let's see...how about something that I've talked about before? Not new, of course not. I always post on something that is somehow related to a prior post.

So, tonight...let's talk about internal motivation or sometimes, I like to call this 'internal marketing'. the essence of marketing is to sell or convince someone else to buy something or try something, that they may not be familiar with. So, what is internal marketing? Its the same concept but when you do it on yourself.

I'm trying to sell myself on the idea that happiness only comes with contentment. Is it true? Well, sure it is...if you believe you can achieve contentment. I honestly think I can and that is what I'm striving for. To reach this awe-struck feeling where I realize, I am happy for no other reason, than to just be happy. Let's see if it really happens or not.

Things I'm pondering...
...dreams...what do they really mean? especially when you wake up and say...that was weird...
...rest is a good thing...really...it is...but why I can't I do it?
...can jealousy be a motivator to pursue dreams?