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What is all the buzz about?

 

If you know me personally, you know that I am a big time want-to-be technology geek. Alas, I have to rely on four much younger and true geeks who are willing to put up with this old guy! Raymond, Dusty, Clint, and Ryan each help me keep my tech-itch scratched, poor guys! I love the buzz! I want to be in on everything that is happening.

Most people have one or two areas of interest they like to keep up with the latest buzz. What is it that draws you to the buzz? Technology, fashion, headline news, hot cars, cooking, stock prices, movies ….. what pushes your buzz button?

Five things to consider concerning your pursuit of the buzz:

1.) Is the buzz benefiting your life in some way? Entertainment can be a reason and benefit enough. It can also be a productivity thief. You have to weigh the cost and gain!

2.) Buzz almost always introduces something you do not have and is an enticement. How do you respond to the constant call to new acquisitions? The buzz can have a devastating effect on your finances and that can affect your relationships too!

3.) In many areas, the buzz can blind you to see things in a very biased way. Are you able to step away from it long enough to see from other vantage points or perspectives? What does it cost you to always follow the buzz: friends, family, money, time?

4.) Are you able to see trends and cycles in the buzz? Sometimes the opportunities are right there in the buzz! Can you successfully analyze and apply the information that you are gathering from the buzz that will assist you in making good choices?

5.) When do you need to be creating the buzz rather than listening to it? There comes a time where the buzz needs to be all about your leadership and directives. Most people are buzz consumers. Only a few people learn how to be buzz producers. These are the world changers.

The fish lays thousands of eggs at one time, the chicken lays only one or two, but she creates a lot of buzz about what she does! So, what kind of eggs did you have for breakfast this morning?

What is the buzz all about in your life? Surprisingly enough, it may be a healthy question to ask yourself.

Philippians 4 :6-8 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Stand your buzz up next to Philippians 4:6-8. Measure it well and prosper, my friend!

Blessings,

Fred Hughes

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

Your First Response

Most of the time your first response to a crisis will define the outcome! Your first reaction will move you toward victory or defeat, joy or depression, faith or doubt, expectancy or dread, success or failure. Tribulations, trials and troubles are going to show up in life. They are unavoidable, but what you do with them and how you react to them is your choice! Some people internalize. The pressure inside mounts and eventually explodes outwardly, or it eats away inwardly like cancer destroying your health and life. Others over-react in an emotional rage or lose all self-control. They wind up doing the most foolish and often harmful things making fools of themselves.

 

But, God can turn your troubles into triumphs!

The key is to not panic or allow fear to overcome your thoughts and emotions.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

God gives good gifts! Fear, terror, fretting or worrying are not good gifts from God! I think it is interesting that to do battle with fear we are given three gifts from God.

  1. Power ~ Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you… Romans 8:11 The same power that raised Christ from the dead, dwells in you, by the Holy Spirit.
  2. Love ~ 1 John 4:18 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
  3. Sound Mind ~ 3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth. The soul is your mind, your will, and your emotions — what you think, what you do, and how you feel. Philippians 4:8Think on these things. “Think on” means: to meditate, think about, have soundness of mind, the ability to manage your thoughts, sound advice, or reason. Wisdom does not operate well in an environment of fear. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, … Verse 2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. I have the Mind and Spirit of Christ. Nothing can separate me from His love. His Word renews my mind.

The Promise, not the problem, must be our focus. God always attaches the provision to the promise, not the problem. Exercise power, love, and a sound mind, and they will keep the solution within your grasp. You choose how you respond and react to trials and troubles when they come. Remember, all of God’s Promises are “yes and amen!”

When trials and troubles come, Christ is the Light that will guide the way. Do not be afraid! His Word and promises are true in every area of your life. Triumph in Christ! Build on the solid foundation, and the storms will not be able to prevail against you.

Fred Hughes, M. Photog.

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.org

TrialsTWillCome-photo-By William Bout copy (Large)

photo-By William Bout

Get Wisdom!

by Fred Hughes

As an entrepreneur, it is my job to evaluate business practices and decide what and where to invest the companies resources. I was considering recently what value all of the self-help and business coaching materials I have acquired and studied, really are worth to me and my enterprise.

Quite honestly, I often consider much of what is out there a lot of hype and recopied clutter. (Anyone, understand what I’m saying?) There is a lot of noise but not much substance to much of the available training. So where do we search? What are the main things we actually need to do well? It turns out the same answers have been sought after for thousands of years. Moreover, the foundational principals and precepts we are looking for have not changed, they remain the same.

3 John 2-4 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

One of the basic understandings of how we prosper, and according to these verses, how we stay healthy is that we need a soul that prospers. Your soul that it is talking about is your mind, will, and emotions. The soul is what we think, how we react or respond, and what we determine to be the truth which we choose to follow. Finally, one of the greatest joys we can experience is to see our children or mentees actually walk in the truth we taught them as we pass to them the same prosperity we enjoy.

One of the true treasures of life is a prosperous soul!

The ability of the father or mentor to establish truth and wisdom into the next generation is called legacy — not only prospering yourself but passing it to generations to come. That will never happen unless it is based upon truth. Truth stands through time and validates the wisdom and understanding being passed!

Proverbs 4:5-13 Get Wisdom! Get Understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you. Hear oh my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.

Get Wisdom! Get Understanding! What great advice from a father to a son.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without doubting…

Notice that we are talking about the wisdom and understanding that comes from God, not the world. There is a big difference!

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God…

Please understand that the wisdom that comes from God is far better than the wisdom of men. So if you are a Christian (a believer, a son), you have access to the wisdom of God. That wisdom is the truth, and it is the truth that will set you free — free from making poor business decisions and free to build a legacy of truth that can be transferred to others.

The self-help stuff has some value, but if you want real wisdom and understanding, there is a better source, my friend.

GET WISDOM! MAY YOUR SOUL PROSPER!

Fred Hughes, M. Photog.

Read this and other blog posts on our websites.

www.byfredhughes.com ~ www.decision1.orgGetWisdom-Photo Credit - Mika Matin (Large)