Seek Wisdom

I will seek wisdom, how profound and simple, but how many of us think we have this all figured out?
Why do we need to seek wisdom.....

I will be a servant to others.
I will listen to the counsel of wise men.
I will choose my friends with care.
I will seek wisdom.

Knowing that wisdom waits to be gathered, I will actively search her out. My past can never be changed, but I can change the future by changing my actions today. I will change my actions today!

I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others. A wise man will cultivate a servant’s spirit, for that particular attribute attracts people like no other. As I humbly serve others, their wisdom will be freely share with me. Often the person who develops a servant’s spirit becomes wealthy beyond measure…He who serves the most grows the fastest.
I will become a humble servant. I will not look for someone to open my door-I will look to open the door for someone.  I will not be distressed when no one is available to help me–I will be excited when I am available to help.

Solomon seeks wisdom

Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
2 Chr. 1.1-13
3	¶ And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4	And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5	In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6	And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7	And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8	And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9	Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10	¶ And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11	And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12	behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13	And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14	And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15	¶ And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

I will seek wisdom, I will choose my friends with care.
I will seek wisdom,, I will listen to the counsel of wise men.
I will seek wisdom, I will be a servant to others.

THE BUCK STOPS HERE PART 2

More from "The Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews.

"I am where I am today-Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially--because of the decisions I have made. My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am where I am today--mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and financially--because of how I think. Today I will begin the process of changing where I am--mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially--by changing the way I think."

Well if that doesn't just put the monkey right back on you, I don't know what does!
So when we say "The buck stops here" this is what it looks like.....WOW!
Every choice we make, every decision, EVERY THOUGHT...has a reaction in our lives.

Yet we act like this is new information, it is not, repeatedly in the Bible this was taught.

• Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
   whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or admirable think about such things.--Phil. 4:8
  

  • “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” Proverbs 23:7.

  
  

  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

  "When faced with the opportunity to make a decision, I will make one. I understand that God did not put in me the ability to always make right decisions. He did, however, put in me the ability to make a decision and then make it right.
  The rise and fall of emotional tide will not deter me from my course. When I make a decision, I will stand behind it. My energy will go into making the decision. I will not waste time on second thoughts. My life will not be an apology. It will be a statement."
  
  THE BUCK STOPS HERE. I CONTROL MY THOUGHTS. I CONTROL MY EMOTIONS.
  
  How powerful it that? think about it, your life should be a statement, not an apology, so in the future when you are tempted to say "why me?" immediately counter with...
  "WHY NOT ME?"
  "Challenges are gifts, opportunities to learn.Problems are the common thread running through the lives of great men and women. In times of adversity, I will not have a problem to deal with; I will have a choice to make. My thoughts will be clear. I will make the right choice.
  Adversity is preparation for greatness. I will accept this preparation. Why me? Why not me? I will prepare for something great.
  I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am responsible for my success.
  The buck stops here."
  
  In a society that loves to enable and encourage victims, this thought process is way outside the box, you will really have to take ownership of this way of thinking, because even your friends will make excuses and blame circumstances for your failures and challenges.
  
  I was reading an article in "Success" magazine last night that was written by Suze Orman.
  She tells of an encounter with a boutique owner where she shops at frequently, and the owner told Suze that she was opening a second  store. After more conversation with the owner, Suze discovered that she was very unsure of opening the second store but felt like she had put the wheels in motion and was unsure of how to stop, her family was not behind her expansion and in all reality neither was she.
  Now she could have done several things at this point.
  

  1. Open the store and blame the realtor who suggested expansion when/if it did not succeed
  2. Open the store and blame the economy when/if it did not succeed
  3. Open the store and blame her family for not stopping her when/if it did not succeed
  4. Not open a second store until she felt at peace with the decision and take ownership of her decisions.

  She stuck with her gut and is currently maintaining a healthy boutique in a down economy and she is saying...
  
  I accept responsibility for my past. I control my thoughts. I control my emotions. I am responsible for my success.
  The buck stops here."
  
  Have a great day and remember to leave a comment, I would love some feedback.
  Robin
  

THE BUCK STOPS HERE!!!

The first decision for success:

The buck stops here...
"From this moment forward, I will accept responsibility for my past. I understand that the beginning of wisdom is to accept the responsibility for my own problems and that by accepting responsibility for my past, I free myself to move into a bigger, brighter future of my own choosing."

Now I have been saying this for years, as I hear someone blame their parents or the environment they grew up in or an event in their life that left them feeling victimized, you have a choice, ALWAYS, to accept that as your lot in life or choose to be happy, choose to be alive, choose to not be a victim, be a victor!
I did not grow up in an ideal situation and I have 2 brothers and 1 sister, but it is amazing to see how differently we have survived our childhood, all in their very different way. 2 of my siblings literally became victims of the 17-18 years of childhood and its like the other 30 years of their life have no merit, they are stuck in a vicious cycle of blame for what they have become and I wish they would hear me when I tell them it is not too late to become something/someone else, become happy, its a choice.

"Never again will I blame my parents, my spouse, my boss, or other employees for my present situation. Neither my education or lack of one, my genetics, or the circumstantial ebb and flow of everyday life will affect my future in a negative way. If I allow myself to blame these uncontrollable forces for my lack of success, I will be forever caught in a web of the past. I will look forward, I will not let my history control my destiny."

THE BUCK STOPS HERE. I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY PAST. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SUCCESS!

Everytime you feel the inclination to make an excuse for your lack of success, STOP, there is no excuses, only correct thinking and correct actions, if you have not been taking the correct actions to be successful, start today. Outline what it will take, make the decision to do whatever it takes and press on.

More on this subject tomorrow, but please feel free to comment or add to this thought.

Robin

THE TRAVELER'S GIFT

Well it is fitting that this is my first blog as this book inspired me in a very profound way, I read this book because someone suggested that I should, so I went to the library and checked it out.
I was thoroughly unprepared for the voyage I was to be taken on,  WHAT AN AMAZING JOURNEY!
The Traveler's Gift, by Andy Andrews is touted as "The seven decisions that determine personal success", so I was prepared for another "self help" book, NOT SO, this was such a breath of fresh air that I wanted to start it all over the second I was finished reading it, I am serious!
This book is written as a story with a real fiction feel, but the sound principles in this book cannot be confused, you will definitely know EXACTLY how to achieve success in any portion of your life after completing this wonderful little book.
I was so impressed with this body of work that I went to his web-site to see what else he had there, I am posting the link here.
http://www.andyandrews.com/
There seems to be some other wonderful books there that I will be reading this year, but for now, if you are stuck as to what to get someone for Christmas, please remember this book, I am buying a copy for each of my children this year (I hope they don't read this) and a couple to just have to hand out.
I also discovered that there is a - Young Traveler's Gift- for the kids.

But here is just a touch of what is inside:
The main character in this book, David Ponder, had his life planned out, his career, his family, his home...everything. Then a corporate buyout changed everything for him, suddenly unemployed he questioned everything in his life. In an act of desperation he calls one final "WHY ME?" and his journey begins. At each stop he meets with historical leaders who have the 7 decisions that will change his life.
I believe that they have changed mine and the wonderful Biblical principles throughout this book ring true with my spirit also.
Please leave a comment and/or choose to follow me on the right side of the blog page.
Happy reading
Robin