How to Train an Elephant.....

Have you ever wondered how to train an elephant? The first step is making it believe it can't run away. Get your elephant--preferably a baby one--and tie it to a strong steel stake in the ground, like you would tie a horse to a hitching post. The baby elephant will try to break free, but it won't have the strength to do so. Eventually, the little elephant will give up and stop trying to escape from the rope and the stake that limit its range. Once the young elephant has learned that it cannot pull the stake from the ground, you can replace the strong stake with a smaller wooden one, even though it wouldn't have enough strength to hold the elephant. An elephant trained in its babyhood to believe that the stake is strong and won't budge won't attempt to break loose and run away--even after it has grown strong enough to easily yank almost any stake out of the ground. We are also best trained in our youth by a strong stake in the ground That teaches us where the limits are, by a certainty about the difference between right and wrong. That stake is the Word of God. The only way you can become an obedient follower of Jesus is to submit yourself to the authority of the Word of God. And you need to start now! The Bible teaches you to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth" (Ecclesiastes 12:1). If you discipline yourself now, you'll be able to control yourself when truly difficult times of temptation come your way.

Lesson Learned

Life Lessons from My Past:

One: Just because you forgive someone, the pain of the moment and its memories fades over time.

Two: Laziness is like a slug, it is fun to stop and look at, but by the time it actually moves, the sun has gone down.

Three: Relationships are more important than an event, program, time limit, or an appointment.

Four: People are ministry, if you don't have a heart for people, then you don't have a heart for ministry.

Five: Opportunities come along everyday, but they are never the same type.

Six: Denominations are like the 12 tribes of Israel, if one was in trouble, then they all fought together to help that other tribe. Hmm...let that sink in for a moment.

Seven: God's will for our life is lived out daily, never forced, but walked in.

Eight: If you want something you have never had before, you must be willing to:

-Move to a new place.

-Meet new people.

-Change your mind.

-Get rid of bad attitudes.

-Be flexible.

-Be willing.

-Be ready.

-Listen.

Nine: Time is spent everyday, how much is left in your pocket?

Ten: Be yourself, no one likes a fake you!!

Blessings!

Jessica Smith

Stop Looking At Me!

Whatever your predominant focus is, that is what you permit to exist in your life. Jabez chose to focus on his future desires rather than his present circumstances. Many times people focus on the negative and they live in a cycle of negativity. You have to choose to focus on the positive. You have to train your mind. Whatever is going wrong in your life is a result of your focus. If you don't like it, change your focus. (Philippians 4:8)

If you plan to change your future, do not focus on things or people. Turn down the distractions. Your focus will either feed your faith or confirm your fears. Think like Abraham. Think intentionally, generational, and even globally. You can never think too big, too grand, or too great! Sometimes, when we focus, we find ourselves in a fuzzy situation. What do I mean by this? Let's say that you are driving down the freeway, you have a meeting to attend to. You brought your computer, notebook, pen, and calender. That morning, you made sure you had everything ready for this important meeting, and half way there, you realize you are driving the wrong direction! You were so focused on the preparation, that you lost your sense of direction. My friends, it is hard not to be caught up in what is going around right now, with job lay-offs, financial cut-backs, and the rising prices of food, there is no loss of attention getter's.

Another example would be trying to read the paper, only realizing everything is fuzzy. Why? You put on your husband's glasses instead of your own. Friends, look at what God has given to you. Don't try to put on someone elses anointing or skill set. Do what you can, grow with what you have and ask God to let you focus on Him! That One Thing that we drive and pursue after. Turn around, turn off the T.V., put down your books, turn down the radio, and listen to God.

God speaks.

You Hear.

You See what you Hear.

You Speak what you See.

And DO what He Says!

What is He saying to you today??

Focus!

Blessings,

Jessica Smith

I've Changed My Mind

The first thing you must do in taking possession of all God has prepared for you is to take possession of your thoughts. You may not think this requires a great deal of effort, let alone training or practice, but there is only one thing harder to master than your thoughts, and that is your tongue. (See James 3:8) Winning the battle in your thought life requires meditating daily on the truths found in scripture, studying diligently to show yourself approved, and becoming an earnest lifelong student of the art of spiritual warfare. In the old and new testament, we are told that our battles do not happen in in the temporal realm, but in the spiritual realm. We are instructed to take every thought captive: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5



"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obey Christ."



Every battle is won or lost in the arena of your mind. It was fear alone that caused the Israelites to miss out on the promise of God. Instead of inheriting property, they were forced to wander homeless until the next generation rose up bold enough to take possession and move in. God instructed Joshua to meditate on His Word daily so that it would fill his heart, mind and mouth. Then He commanded him to be strong and courageous. Do you see the connection? Until his mind and mouth only thought and Spoke God's Word, Joshua could not have any hope of being strong and of good courage. Right the outset God made it a priority to address the issue of Joshua's mind-no other instructions or strategies took precedence over what occupied Joshua's thoughts.



What is it that God has placed inside of your heart to do? Does your mouth match your heart or the complaints of the flesh? The saying goes, "Put your money where your mouth is."

I say, put your mouth where God's heart is. Stop complaining about what isn't happening and change your mind, then change your life. You are always one choice away from changing the rest of your life!

Blessings,

Jessica Smith