Category Archives for "Inspirational"

Are You Happy?

Are You Happy?

Seriously, Are You Happy? What makes you happy and why?

A few years back a song that was almost worn out by the regularity it was played on the radio stations across America titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin was a favorite of mine. I loved the beat, the feel, and the message. I was thinking of this song one day, and it occurred to me, hey, that is scriptural!

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, (Don’t Worry), but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, (Be Happy) which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Also see) Luke 12:22-31

Back to the main question, are you happy? Perhaps a better question would be, what is happy? According to the song and the scriptures, worry, being anxious, frustrated or fearful is not happy! Therefore, I am asking you, what makes you happy? Let me offer a little help, another word for happy is content. What makes you content, satisfied, fulfilled, happy? Is it possible to identify it?

Possibly it is feelings, safety, adequacy, acceptance, worth, possessions, legacy, fame, freedom, love, relationship, authority, knowledge, fun, a day-off, chocolate, family, friends, food, hunting, dancing, reading, music, movies, money, kids, pets, facebook, twitter, travel, or something else.

What is your happy based on? How long does your happy last? How do you find happy again, when it goes away? Can you be happy all the time? The Bible has those answers.

Psalm 127:3-5 (vs. 3 Children are a heritage from the Lord) vs.5 Happy is the man who has a quiver full of them.

Psalm 144:13-15 vs.15 Happy are the people who are in that state; (must be Texas!) Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man/woman who finds wisdom, and the man/woman who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins: But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy! Happy is an atmosphere or an attitude you can move into anytime you choose to do so! Happy or Sad, Mad or Glad, Blessing or Curse, it is your call, your choice, your life! Wake up every morning and say to yourself, “self, today we are going to be happy!”

Cast your cares (worry & fear) on God, because He cares about you! When you do that, you will find that happy happens! Happy is an atmosphere or an attitude you can move into anytime you choose to do so, happy or sad; mad or glad, blessing or cursing … your call, your life. Just say, “Self, listen up, I am going to be happy today no matter what gets in my way!”

My desire is that you discover the real happy that will live inside you and always help you and be there for you! The Holy Spirit is that ever-present help in times of need, and the one who will guide you into all truth. But most important of all, Holy Spirit is the one who brings fullness of joy (happy) into your life.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

HAPPY < Let me leave you Happy! (YouTube Links) > Don’t Worry Be Happy

Fred Hughes

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

Season’s Greetings

I love this time of year. It truly is a series of seasons in which we have opportunities to give greetings to those around us. What greetings are you giving?

Thanksgiving is an awesome time for greeting. First, we greet our Creator, because we are thankful for life, abundance, fullness, and joy! Second, we give greetings of thanksgiving to those around us at work and play. We are thankful for real relationships and all that we are blessed to have in this great country where we are privileged to live.

Christmas is the season’s most wonderful time of expressing great tidings or greetings to everyone you meet! “Merry Christmas, Peace and Good Will to Men, Blessings from our House to Yours” are all heartfelt expressions of love and warmth on greeting cards and letters, as well as salutations in passing. Wow, what a wonderful time of the year! Greetings announce the birth of the Savior of the World! Declarations of the Good News, salvation for all men, have come and are available to all!

A New Year is a time to greet one another in the fresh opportunities of a new beginning! This nation and each citizen living here should begin the new year of 2017 with great expectancy! With jubilee, we celebrate the New and build an expectation of Better — a better life, a better job, a new chance to improve and excel in this brand new year! Perhaps, it will be the best year ever! Perhaps, this will be the Year of Jubilee where we are set free of bondages and disappointments we have faced in the past. Be free and free indeed! Happy New Year!

In the past great American leaders in our nation have greeted each new year in, and they blessed it to be the best year ever! As new leaders emerge, I pray that the tradition continues to the next generation. Be the person that God has endowed you to be in 2017! Greetings to you as you participate in the most exciting days that have ever existed on this earth! These days belong to you!

Season’s Greetings!

Fred Hughes

This and other great posts can be found at our websites:

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

America’s Opportunity Awaits

There is a spiritual war for America going on. We have seen Republicans and Democrats going to battle over control of the country for the past several months. Now the people have made a selection, right or wrong, we made a choice. A transition will take place in the American leadership.  I truly believe in our founding father’s declaration “In God We Trust.” They certainly understood these peaceful transitions would need divine assistance.

“The nation who needs no God is the nation who must live under the tyranny of mere men. ” ~Fred Hughes~

The American vote places a very special authority in the hands of the people. Americans who are also Christians have an even greater authority. We have a spiritual authority with even greater and more powerful influence than our vote. We have a voice that is heard by God, and we have the ability to hear God’s response. There are many enemies who want to destroy the voice of the vote and the voice of God speaking to His people. We must realize the truth that sets men free is the truth of God’s word.

(Ephesians 6:10-12) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is sad to say, but Christians forget, or have never known the authority that is available to them as a believer. We, who are in the body of Christ, need to discover what authority God has given us, find out what is under our authority, and start operating in it. It is not flesh and blood, Democrats and Republicans, that we are at war with.

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Jesus gave us a few responsibilities. The authority he placed in our hands must be appropriated by us! God is not going to do things he told us to do. We are here to accomplish the job he asked us to do. The early residents of these United States took these spiritual duties seriously.

(Matthew 28:18-20) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This great commission was given to Christ followers. In America the nations have come to us, we do not even have to “go” the nations are here! We have lots of churches but not enough disciple makers. If we do not make disciples of them, they will soon make disciples of our children and friends following their gods and ways. We already see this in our schools and universities today. We must obey the commission and use the authority given to us in Matthew 28:19-20

Our nation, as I see it, is at a pivotal point. If we return to the foundations of freedom our country was built upon, then we will have a great nation. If we follow our founding fathers who wisely followed Jesus, we will have an even greater nation. The men and women who established this great experiment called democracy were Christians who valued the authority of God. These great Americans who set before us as an example, a great government, established by faith in a loving God in whom we can confidently place our trust. This is the pivotal moment, will we recognize it? If so, then, we too will have the freedom they possessed.

We have the authority and the directive to get America Born Again! Then, she can be Great Again! America’s opportunity awaits!

Imagine what would happen if we invested as much money, air-time, and round-game effort into promoting the Kingdom of God as we do for an election.

That is what I see for America. “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” God Bless America.

Fred Hughes

www.decision1.org ~ www.byfredhughes.com

The Power of Possible

Can you imagine the power of a mighty river flowing and the thunderous sound of the water crashing over the falls? A few years ago I had the great opportunity to stand next to Niagra Falls and experience the roar and the beauty. I remember thinking of several scriptures that use a picture of words to describe spiritual things for our understanding. Perhaps we can use the image or picture to deepen our comprehension of God’s desire for us to understand the power He makes possible.

“Discovering your possible is not impossible!”

Let me share a couple of those thoughts with you.

Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

This verse was written by King David and is a wonderful prophetic vision of what is possible for you and I today. As believers, we are tributaries of the river of life, Jesus. Out of us flows the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word. Therefore the city you live in is blessed, because it has you living in it! You are the dwelling place of God, His tabernacle! The Most High resides in you! Yes, the same power that raised Christ from the dead dwells or lives in you! Discovering your possible is not impossible! You just look within and discover Christ in you.

John 7: 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

The power of possible! With God, nothing is impossible, but all things are made possible by the power of God living in you and through you. Impossible gives way to possible! All things are possible, because the power that lives in you will never leave you, never abandon you. The power of possible is not positive thinking, but positive thinking is powerful, if you think the thoughts of the Most Powerful!

“The power of possible is not positive thinking, but positive thinking is powerful if you think the thoughts of the most powerful!

For the believer, it is possible to have the mind of Christ … to know what God is thinking! How is that possible? John 8: 31 “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Also, consider this,the Holy Spirit who is the empowering force of God in the earth today is living in you. The good news is that you can hear His voice and have an ongoing conversation with Him. The power of possible is this! You have access to the one who knows all things, and there is nothing too difficult for Him! That is powerful! You are standing in front of something much greater than Niagra! You are standing in the presence and power of Possible!

Revelation 21:22 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The power of possible is not in some “7 Steps to a Possible Life” free e-book you can download (if you give your e-mail address). The power of possible is in the real book that has the power to set men free!

Pursue the power of possible!

by Fred Hughes

Great as Apple Pie!

Great as Apple Pie!

There is something wonderful about living in the USA! Apple Pie and IceCream is one of those “list toppers” for me! The festivities of the 4th of July and the patriotism that stirs in the hearts of many Americans makes me proud to live here! Not everyone feels that way, I’m sure. But for those of us who still believe in the greatness of our country and the uniqueness of the American Spirit. Our common view of a diversity of people under God’s blessings united in love for one another and a connected dream of living free is still something to be celebrated! I hope you enjoyed celebrating the birth of the nation that represents freedom and hope as much as I did.

5 Directives that can reshape your life

We live life in a body. We have a soul (mind, will & emotions), and we are a spirit (God breathed His life, or Spirit into us).  My focus is on the will.  The will is the area perhaps least talked about, but just like the mind and emotions, it has much to do with how our lives and relationships operate.  What I will to do, or not to do, can carry me away as a captive, or propel me into wonderful places. God himself will not take my will from me.  He is the one who gave it to me to start with.  Therefore, it is my choice how to direct it.

Directive: A statement, or declaration, that provides direction for an action to be taken.

If my soul is being lead by the Spirit of God, then my mind, will, and emotions align with one another.

• My Mind — I can have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).
• My Will —  By the Word of God I can know His will for me and can agree, or not agree with it!
• My Emotions — The emotions will then follow the rejoicing, or the rebelling of my mind and will.

With this in mind, there are five directives that I personally choose (or will) to do.  Each of these brings unique benefits to my life.

1.)  I Will to ………. Love!  Love God and love others (1 John 4:8-17).  For those who do not love me, I will love them anyway!  Love never fails (1 Corinthians 15)!  I can and will count on love.

2.)  I Will to ……….. Be a giver, full of generosity and gracious at every opportunity.  John 3:16 says, “For God so Loved the world, that He GAVE …… Giving is simply Godly!

3.)  I Will to ……… Listen closely and learn.  Listen to God.  “My sheep know my voice,”  John 10:14, 27.  I will listen to the voice of God and be taught by men with wisdom.  I will not cease to learn good things.

4.)  I Will to ……….. Be joyful and live a happy, fruitful life, because I am blessed! I am a friend of God (James 2:23, John 15:15).  I am blessed going in and coming out.  I am going over and not under.  I am blessed and not cursed.  I am redeemed, bought with a price, and a child of God (Romans 8:14).  I have every reason to walk in Joy and Fruitfulness!

5.)  I Will to ……….. Speak only what is good and what I desire in my life.  I will not allow my words to be filled with anything but blessings, faith, goodness, joy, peace, and love.  I will speak the word of God, and He will empower His words coming from my mouth.  I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15).  I am His Ambassador in this earth.  “As he is, so are we, in this world,” 1 John 4:17.

Direct your will, just as you direct your mind and your emotions. You are given a soul to rule over.  Designed directives will help you transform your life.

Integrity (So “Old School” no one knows what it is)

“Integrity” is missing in our society today. The lack of integrity is one of the key reasons we have lost our direction. If you have no true North, an absolute, on your moral compass, then you have no way of knowing where you are,so you simply move through life aimlessly lost!  The Word of God and the Holy Spirit were given to show us the way and give us the opportunity to walk in the right direction! May I suggest the path of integrity that is written about in the Bible. Integrity does lead to many great attributes and experiences in life.

~ fred hughes ~

A True Voice

Very few things that I have learned over the years have been more profound than understanding the value of a clear truthful voice.  Growing up I was blessed with a dad and grandad that provided a true voice for me to follow.  I understand that not everyone has that advantage in life.  As I grew and developed into manhood, I noticed that there were voices that were not true and voices that were worthy of listening to.

Identifying a true voice is only possible if you know what a true voice sounds like.  A voice that is deceiving sounds very close to a true voice, in fact, that is exactly what makes the lie believable! It is amazing how deceiving, deception can be!  Ha, Ha! But you know the truth is often distorted in subtle ways or a half truth is presented.

Every leader with an unclear voice is a poor leader because it is difficult to understand if it is a true voice and, therefore, difficult to follow. I believe a true voice is a great gift to have in your life.  More importantly being a true voice to those whom you have influence may be even greater!

I personally tune my ears to the Word of God because I believe it is true and full of truth that has the power to set men free. Not all truth sets you free.  It is the truth that comes from God.  The truth that you believe and act upon is the truth that has the ability to set you free.  John 8:36 “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!” In your spheres of influence, be a true voice! This one thing will make you a better husband or wife; father or mother; leader or manager; friend or citizen. Blessings!

Fred Hughes, CEO, Decision Ministries Int. ~ www.decision1.org

Fred Hughes, M.Photog. , Owner ~ www.byfredhughes.com

Life

Life is not just something we do!  Life is actually a person… Jesus said “I am the truth and the life…  LIFE!  Jesus also said “I give you life and life more abundant”  What is this LIFE?  Life with my wife or husband, kids, friends, people I work with, all very important and all valuable parts of my life.  People have life… we can lay it down if the cause is worthy. We can through it away, waste it away or invest it in something or someone.  Paul said, “It is not my life that I live, but it is Christ who lives in me.”  We can allow Christ to live in and through us. What a wonderful way to live life!  It is the only way that we can achieve the life and life more abundant.  Christ in you, the hope of Glory!   Life in Christ brings His Glory into the Earth.  Life, it is special. Life is in you.  Only believe!  The days we live, we call life! That is a sad summation of a person’s existence on Earth.  Life is rather the creative and cumulative revelations of Life Himself manifesting in and through you!  Interestingly we are also called vessels and we are made to be able to carry this wonderful life and share it with others.

Do not try to do life, rather live it in Christ, allowing Him to shine through you!

Fred Hughes, M. Photog. ; CEO Decision Ministries Int.

Original Posting of this article was September 2, 2015