Questions Archives • richard-armstrong.com

09/15/201809/15/2018

Looking For Answers

5 Great Responses When You Are Looking For Answers

We have all been there. Lost our job. The marriage went kaput. Best friend(s) left us. What could go wrong, did!

Be careful not to react.

Instead, put structure into a response to the difficult and trying circumstances you face. The Psalmist, King David reminds us not to lose heart but to ‘be of good courage.’

I would have lost heart unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalms 27: 13,14

Over the years of loss, pain, and difficulties I have gained different perspectives on trudging through the muck of despair.

5 Great Responses When You Are Looking For Answers

Refocus capturing a positive attitude by looking at the BIG picture.
Realize what you still have, not what was lost.
Recognize you cannot control the uncontrollable.
Reduce unnecessary stresses by learning to say ‘no.’
Regain and keep your sense of humor.

“You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make.

Forget your past.

Who are you now?

Who have you decided to become?

Make this decision consciously.

Make it carefully.

Make it powerfully.” Anthony Robbins

When in this challenging transition time it is good to consider your past HABITS, your previous ATTITUDE, and your past BEHAVIORS.

Here is a question for you.

Did any of the big three; habits, attitude and behaviors plummet you into the difficulty you are experiencing now?

I must make a confession, I don’t get a ‘high five’ on all 5 of these all the time. My wife had to pull the covers off me one morning when I didn’t want to face the day. She said; “Get up, the sun is up and we are going to make it!” Thank the good Lord for a great wife.

Let’s take a look at each one.

When the company I worked at for 22 years closed, I was despondent at first but soon realized my life was not over. Grabbed ahold of my optimism and began my pursuit of other employment.

2. What I had was more significant than my loss. My wife, my children, and my faith carried me through. A HABIT of mine was to stash some cash in uncertain times, so we had a cushion to tide us over troubled waters.

3. No matter how much I grieved the job loss, I could not change it. I had no control over the company’s decision to close. No amount of my complaining would alter this severe loss. But what I did have power over was my ATTITUDE. Instead of a closed fist, I opened my hands to new possibilities.

4. I had many opportunities which I had to say the word, NO. It was a learning curve to go through rejecting ‘not so good opportunities’ for better options. Not good for me to be with negative people, so I opened myself up to two friends who had positive outlooks on life.

5. A little levity is good for the soul.

My BEHAVIOR in the job loss was happiness over discontentment. Cheerfulness will redeem your day. The Bible instructs us, cheerfulness is like a medicine. Instead of brokenness, bend your spirit to God’s will. He knows the way through your difficulty.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Psalm 17:22

The mantra for my posts is: ‘Choices Made, Make Us.’

You now have the opportunity for change to take place in your life. Whatever difficult circumstance you are experiencing you have a choice. Five options. Which of the five will you work on first? The five choices made ALL the difference in my situation. The five will break the chain of loss and despair, it is up to you to make the decision.

My prayer,

Lord, open eyes and hearts to see the wonderful things You have in store for each reader. Even in the hopeless situations, You have promised to never leave nor forsake us. Encourage this reader to put their trust in Your hands. In Jesus name. Amen

For more insight on my transition click here.

Believing for a better tomorrow,

Richard

04/08/2018

The Shocking Workday Calamity

The Shocking Workday Calamity

“What Have You Done?”

The shocking workday calamity did not have to happen. These workers had been given the assignment to work in a specific area. Something outside their work area attracted them. Thereupon, the shocking workday calamity hit the downward spiral changing their world forever!

Here it is in Genesis chapter three, verse thirteen:

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” (my emphasis)

Working in an unauthorized, off-limits area, they ate the forbidden fruit giving birth to the chaos of sin.

“What have you done?” God asks this question to Eve and Adam.

This examination question is as relevant today as it was at the beginning of time.

The original questions God asked records how sin entered humanity. God’s first question; “where are you?” deals with our emotions. His second question; “who told you?” deals with our reasoning ability. The third question, “What have you done?” points to our will. These three soul issues, which are; our emotions, our intellect, and our will guide us through our day to day routines of life.

The shocking workday calamity happens with disastrous results when we take our eyes off our usual ‘work’ assignments.

These three questions are fundamental to me today. The questions form the basis of my walk with the Lord and interactions I have with family and friends. Where am I?, who am I listening to?, and what am I doing?

Three simple questions.

The simple, straight-forward questions are the hardest to answer.

So, what should I do to answer these questions?

Repent to God of my sin and ask forgiveness of my family and friends for wrongs done to them.
Respect the boundaries God has positioned for me to live my life.
Reach for new opportunities to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Realizing what you have done in your past, what will you do to change your tomorrows? It is in the power of your will.

“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top—it is the willpower to that, is the most important. This will power rises from your heart.” – Junko Tabei (First woman on Mt. Everest)

God stands before you, asking what you have done? It is not a question of condemnation but opportunity. Today is the day for a new direction in your life. The right to acknowledge your missteps and chart a different course. You can make the changes necessary; I know you can because you are a good person.

Believe me: The sun will rise again and you will follow a new path.

Please leave a comment, I read and respond to all comments. Freely share with others on your social media pages.

Thank you,

Richard

03/18/2018

Answer this question honestly

I’ve often thought about this one question.

I need to answer this question honestly. My answers to this inquiry have helped to guide my life. When I take time to ponder this question seriously, the answers I come up with keep me on track to living a fulfilled life.

So, what is the question?

I’ll take you back to the beginning of time in the Bible to find this question.
Here it is in Genesis chapter three and verse nine. “Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (NLT)

“Where are you?” is the first recorded question God asked humankind.

It indeed was not a geographical inquiry by God.

The issue was soul-searching.
People do stupid things when they do not know where they are at in the present moment. When God appeared in the garden, Adam and Eve hid behind a tree. Hence the ‘tree hugger’ movement had begun! They were avoiding the question God had asked. When we answer this question honestly, we spy our actual reality of where we are at this moment in time.

Three choices.

It is surprising to me that many people continue to go on their merry way disregarding their reality.
People choose one of three ways when this question is asked of them; “where are you? Many do not answer this question honestly. In fact, some don’t even give an answer. Instead, people do this:
1. Ignore the issue by getting busy doing trivial things. Such as hiding behind trees.
2. Object to the person for asking such a personal question. They choose to shoot the messenger rather than considering the message.
3. The wise ones ponder the reality as it is at this time in their life. Honestly forming a soul-searching response to the ‘where are you’ which leads to fulfillment.

God spoke the question at the beginning of time, it still resonates down through the centuries to this very day; “where are you?”

To answer this question honestly, I need to take a reality checkup.

1. Spiritually is my experience on right standing with God?

2. Are my relationships with other people thriving and positive?

3. Am I using my resources wisely?

Summing this up; where am I at spiritually, physically, financially, socially and morally?

“The word ‘question’ originates from the Latin root, quaestio, which means ‘to seek.’ Inside the word, ‘question’ is the word ‘quest,’ suggesting that within every question is an adventure, a pursuit which can lead us to hidden treasure.” – Tom Wujec

So, God stands before you today; He poses the question; “Where are you? Will you ignore, object, or ponder this inquiry He raises? Or, are you still ‘hiding behind trees?

“Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

The second aspect of this first question God asked is incredible! Think about it for a moment. God comes to humanity; His reach is toward us. God approaching us sets the whole narrative of the Bible apart from other religions.

Answer this question honestly, and you live a more abundant life.

I’d like to see your comments. Give your insight on this post. Did it cause you to think, where you are today? Did I miss something? Let me know. Use the comment box to write your notes. If you deem this post worthy of reading, please post it on your social pages.
Thank you,
Richard Armstrong

Woods picture by Valerity Andrnshko – Unsplash