THE ALGEBRA GIFT

So often I've heard people say, "I can do math, but when it comes to those letters I get confused."  Algebra is simply substituting a letter (or a symbol of some sort) for an "unknown" amount in a mathematical equation.  Then the equation is manipulated so that the "unknown" is isolated on one side of the equality sign and all other amounts (or terms) are on the opposite side of the equality sign.  This is done by transposing (doing the OPPOSITE operation to the term being shifted across the equal sign).  The opposite of adding is subtracting and the opposite of multiplying is dividing and vice  versa. To illustrate the process and the order, I've created a demonstration video comparing the process to opening a gift tied with a ribbon.

Can you guess what's in the box?

FAMILY

FAMILY

When you think of family what comes to mind?  Is it one of your Google+ circles, a taxonomic rank, relatives, a group of people connected by some common bond, or only a dream?  Perhaps a better question is, “What is the ideal human family?”  We are all part of at least one family—maybe more.  Each of us enters into a family by force (birth) or by choice (joined by marriage, cohabitation, or perhaps adoption). 

My ideal family was fostered by the old TV shows like “Father Knows Best”, “Lassie”, “The Partridge Family”, and “Leave It to Beaver”. (I realize I’m revealing my age here.)  The kids did outrageous things that got them into difficult predicaments, but the parents always came to the rescue and seldom used corporal punishment to correct them.  The natural consequences of the calamity and the family discussions became the corrective force or life lesson.  The shows presented good moral values with concern and respect for property, others, and themselves.

So for me the ideal family is a group of people who love one another unconditionally; give instruction and support to each other in good and difficult times; and share the fun, laughter, trials, and tears of life.

Whether you are in a family by force or by choice, you are an integral part of that unit.  You can be a positive or negative contribution to the health and welfare of your family.  Your thoughts, words, and actions make a difference in the interactions within that group and also in the way those outside your family perceive your family.   

“Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?” Prov. 20:11 NIV.   

As you become more independent and begin to create a family group beyond your parents, you can develop that ideal family. Your family can become what you want it to be.  Your relationships with friends will begin to do this.  Think about what kind of family you’d like to have, develop your own personal standards for yourself, and choose relationships with your “family” goal in mind.

I am so glad to have been twice adopted.  I was adopted by a loving family when I was only two days old.  They told me I was chosen and that made me feel very special, loved, and accepted.  Then I discovered that God had adopted me into His family.  Now that is really special!

 “. . . the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, . . .”  Rom. 8:15b-17a  NIV

So, what kind of family would you like to have?  How do you contribute to the family?

I’d be so glad to hear about your ideal family. 

 You may leave a comment here.

SIX THINGS I LEARNED FROM FAILURE

LESSONS FROM FAILING

I can still remember as a child the first time I tried to bake a cake by myself.  I had found a box of chocolate cake mix in the cupboard and thought, “Now what can be so hard about this?”  My mom was at work so I called her to ask if I could make the cake.  She tried to deter me, but I was confident that I could read and follow the directions.  She reluctantly gave me permission to go ahead.  Everything went fine until I took the finished product out of the oven.  It looked and smelled like a cake—even chocolate, my favorite!  However, as it cooled it began to sink.  But it looked and smelled so good!  I couldn’t resist, I had to try some.  It was rather gooey and tasted like fudge—delicious!  Of course, it didn’t seem right, but I put it in a covered cake container.  Every day I’d eat some of the fudgy concoction.  Over half the cake was consumed before my mom discovered the undercooked delectable (beginning to mold).  She made me throw away the remaining product, but helped me bake another with her expert supervision.

Since that time I’ve tried many times to be PERFECT.  Many times I’ve failed to achieve what I thought was success and fallen short of my goal.  However, in the process I’ve learned six things.

1.  Failure can be a learning process.  If I reevaluate my endeavor and discover my mistakes, I can avoid them in the future.  Also by examining my mistakes I can learn valuable lessons for success.  The important thing is to not give up, which leads to my next point.

2.  Sometimes I failed just because I gave up too soon.

"It's not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up again." Vince Lombardi

Don't Give Up

Walt Disney was turned down 302 times before he got financing for his dream of creating the "Happiest Place on Earth". Today, due to his persistence, millions of people have shared 'the joy of Disney'. Colonel Sanders spent two years driving across the United States looking for restaurants to buy his chicken recipe. He was turned down 1,009 times! How successful is Kentucky Fried Chicken today? Having said this, keep in mind that you must constantly reevaluate your circumstances and the approach you are using to reach your goal. There is no sense in being persistent at something that you are doing incorrectly! Sometimes you have to modify your approach along the way. Every time you do something you learn from it, and therefore find a better way to do it the next time.

A famous president may have appeared to be a failure when looking at his political record. He failed in business in ’31, was defeated for the legislature in ’32, failed in business in ’34.  His sweetheart died in ’35. He had a nervous breakdown in ’36, was defeated for Senate in ’55, defeated for Vice President in ’56, and defeated for Senate in ’58.

 (* If you haven’t guessed who this President was, go to the end of this post.)

I am encouraged by the light bulb inventor, Thomas Edison.  His perspective on failure was:

“I have not failed.  I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

           “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

"An inventor fails 999 times, and if he succeeds once, he's in. He treats his failures simply as practice shots." Charles F. Kettering

3. Failure may be a result of attitude (pride, fear or dislike)

Being overly confident (prideful) causes me to overlook simple details that cause me to fail.  Thinking I already “know it all” makes me less receptive to instruction and advice.

“Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall. Prov.16:18 NIV.

If I’ve tried something and failed before or if something is completely new to me, I am less likely to put forth the effort to succeed or take the risk to try the task out of fear of failing.

Also, if I dislike some task or subject, I am more likely to procrastinate doing it or I put it off all together. 

"The greatest failure is the failure to try." William Arthur Ward

These attitudes block my ability to think clearly or comprehend new concepts.

4.  Failing does not make me a failure.

Lessons of Failure

Listed in: Challenge & Adversity, Success

Lord, are you trying to tell me something?
For…

Failure does not mean I’m a failure;
It does mean I have not yet succeeded.

Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
It does mean I have learned something.

Failure does not mean I have been a fool;
It does mean I had enough faith to experiment.

Failure does not mean I have disgraced;
It does mean I have dared to try.

Failure does not mean I don’t have it;
It does mean I have something to do in a different way.

Failure does not mean I am inferior;
It does mean I am not perfect.

Failure does not mean I have wasted my life;
It does mean that I have an excuse to start over.

Failure does not mean that I should give up;
It does mean that I should try harder.

Failure does not mean that I will never make it;
It does mean that I need more practice.

Failure does not mean that you have abandoned me;
It does mean that you must have a better idea

(Author Unknown, Source Unknown)

 "Failure is an event, never a person; an attitude, not an outcome." Zig Ziglar

"Failure doesn't mean you are a failure...it just means you haven't succeeded yet. "

            Robert Schuller

5.  Failures can be overcome.

 "Failures don't plan to fail; they fail to plan." Harvey Mackay

 6. If All Else Fails Keep Moving On

Overcoming Failure

When All Else Fails

Get Back Up by Toby Mac

*Elected President in '60... This man was Abraham Lincoln.

S.M.I.L.E

       S.M.I.L.E 

There is power in your smile!

A smile can make the difference in your influence.

A smile is contagious.

A smile can change the whole atmosphere around you.

When you smile, people are more likely to pay attention to you.

Even when you don’t feel like it, smiling will make you feel better.

Give yourself a face lift with a  zygomatic smile. This is one that begins deep down inside you and lifts your whole face.

 Follow this link to learn more about your SMILE POWER.

Try this experiment:  Smile at everyone you meet for a day and keep track of how many smiles you receive in return.  I’ve had many people I don’t even know smile back at me and some even ask, “What makes you so happy today?”  That gives me a chance to share my testimony.

Think of this acrostic for your S.M.I.L.E

Share — good things with others.

Motivate — others to do good things or move on with their dreams/goals.

Invite — others to join you in an event or even a dream.

Live — life to the fullest each moment.

Encourage — others with positive affirmation and value.

Your life will be richer and fuller when you SMILE!

This video blog by Andy Andrews is sure to bring a smile to your face.

FEELING BLUE?

 Do you ever feel alone?  Perhaps even in a crowd you feel left out or ignored.  Or maybe you feel like you are the only person in the world that has ever experienced what you are going through.  Well, I have GREAT NEWS for you!  You don’t ever have to be alone!

If you personally know the Creator of the Universe (Jehovah God) He has made a promise to you:

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb. 13:5 NIV

God desires to have a personal relationship with you. 

Notice Rev. 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat (or fellowship) with that person, and they with me.”

Psalm 91 addresses those who live in the shelter of the Almighty.  In verses 15 and 16 God promises, “He (that's you) will call on me, and I (that's God) will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” NIV

Click here to learn how you can personally know God 

Perhaps you feel friendless. 

Again I have GREAT NEWS for you!

Prov. 18:24 says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” KJV

I like the Message version: “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.”

To have friends, you must be a friend.

There may be someone near you who is looking for a friend.  YOU could be that friend.

Click here to see what Ken Davis has to say about true friends

Do you ever wonder WHY ME?  

     When you feel like you are the only one who has ever been in your particular situation consider what God’s Word has to say:

I Cor. 10:13 “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face.  All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” MSG

Of course, one of the best things you can do when FEELING BLUE

is to S.M.I.L.E

IT'S A PACKAGE DEAL (by Nora)

IT’S A PACKAGE DEAL

PATIENCE

Do you cringe at the thought?  Have you ever asked for patience?  Or perhaps you are one of those who says, “I’ll never ask for patience because then God will give me some big challenge to test my patience.” 

Patience (or long-suffering) is part of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Gal. 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance: against such there is no law.” KJV

Notice that the word “fruit” is singular, meaning that all the elements are combined in ONE package just like a watermelon contains seeds, juice, rind, etc. 

Therefore, patience is included in the package.  So the next time you think about asking for patience, realize that if you possess the Fruit of the Spirit, you already have patience.

That leads to another perspective.  Since you already have patience, what do you do with it?

EXERCISE IT!

When you need to wait for something—exercise patience.  When you are frustrated about something, instead of resorting to anger—exercise patience.

Patience is also a work.  Rom. 5:3-5   “There’s more to come:  We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.  In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged.  Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold every thing God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” MSG

Notice that patience needs trials or troubles to perform the needed transformation in us, but the outcome is well worth the effort.

Rom. 8:25 “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” NIV

So the next time you need patience, don’t ask for it, but PRACTICE IT because "It's in the Package!"

After reading this post you may like to check out these links:
http://www.andyandrews.com/
 http://www.greatday.com/
 http://www.kendavis.com/