Setting Purposeful Goals

How important is it to set goals?  If you are that person that plans everything, from the time you are to get up, the time you go to bed, as well as everything in between, do you ever accomplish all of those tasks?  Of course there are some people that live life as it comes.  No plans, no vision as to how things should go.  Things just fall into place.  No stress, no worries. 

Some people like me have to have a well-thought out plan in order to get things done.  I plan, plan, and plan some more.  I monitor progress, then review progress to be sure that I am on the right track to get things done.  To some, I may not look very organized.  I work on many tasks at one time.  Most of the time I can complete tasks with ease because of my plans.  So, the question is...is it important to set goals?

If we set goals, then we have an idea of where we will go from one point in life to the other.  It is an excellent idea to take a look at the progress that is made over the years.  One of my pet peeves is to make no progress.  I need to see some type of movement.  I am guilty of planning the future of my kids to a certain extent.  I look at the goal that they have set, then inform them of their progress.  I have grown to learn that others do not want to hear you tell them that they are sitting still in life.  Unless they ask.  In reality, they may be comfortable with where they are.  Not that this is a bad thing, but why stay stuck in the same old place year after year with no progress...total waste of time.  That's just me.  Maybe I am an over-achiever.  I am always pushing for more.  Bad?  I don't think so. 

I believe it has to do with what is instilled on the inside of me.  It is that little small voice inside that keeps saying keep going.  I can do better than that.  Push on.  I have to reach my goal. 

The worst thing in the world to me is failure.  Failure to you may be okay.  Some people learn to live with it.  I cannot say the same.  To me failure means defeat.  I will not be defeated and I am not ashamed to say it.  The wheels are usually turning in my head.  I believe it has a lot to do with the amount of time that I spend in prayer for direction.  The last thing that I want to do is spend years and years going in the wrong direction.  If you have ever gotten lost by making a wrong turn?  Well you may drive thirty minutes in the wrong direction.  Once you realize that it is the wrong direction, you turn around then head back in the direction that you came.  Well you have just wasted an hour in order to get back to where you started from.  Why spend so much of your time doing what you want rather than what you need to do in order to reach your goal, which should line up with your purpose in life. 

Time is so precious.  We can spend year after year trying to do something that wasn't even meant for us to do.  That goes for careers, education, and relationships. 

So, I would say that it is important to set goals.  Setting goals will give a sense of direction.  But, prayer is also needed for guidance and focus.  When the two are put together, then it is a winner in the making.

Celestine A. Gatley 
A Designed Transformation 

Self-Help Resources

Letting Go

How many times do we hold on to things that happened in the past?  Some of us get angry about things and stop speaking to others for years.  What purpose does this serve?  You are not hurting the other person.  You are hurting yourself. 

Let the past go.  Holding onto negative situations from the past only hinders you from living a life of peace and joy.  Living with unforgiveness is actually harder to do than to forgive.  Those negative thoughts hinder you from moving to a better place.  The bible said do no remember the former things.  When you give your life to God, you have the privilege to have the Lord fight your battles.  You don't have to hold on to anything negative.  Don't let other people hinder you from receiving your promises from God.  You will be judged in the manner that you judge.  Once again, let it go and just live.  Give thanks to God for working your situation out for you and live with love and forgiveness in your heart.   Trust God.  He is bigger than any of your problems.

As a Christian, you are a new creation.  He said that he will do a new thing.  The hard part is changing your thinking.  Focus on positive things.  Spend time with God and ask for guidance.  Your burdens will be lifted if you just ask.


Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 NKJV

Today's passage is from the New King James Version.

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

Celestine A. Gatley 
A Designed Transformation 

Self-Help Resources

Recovering From Hurt

Separation and divorce are so common today.  I am guilty.  I have been through both myself.  The experience was unpleasant to say the least.  I don't want to focus on separation, divorce, or the process of divorce.  I want to focus on healing from a horrible process of tearing apart what God joined together.  It leaves both parties broken and shattered.  If you are thinking of going through a divorce, I would say trust God instead.  I would never tell someone to stay in an abusive relationship.  I believe that God will protect you by removing you or the other person from your life.  When I read this scripture, I saw the word, "unfaithful".  Marriage is a covenant between you and God.  Yes, you stood before God and married your spouse.  He is not pleased with the putting away of  or divorce.  A covenant should never be broken. 

If you are broken from a tearing of the soul, you know that it is an empty and painful feeling.  It doesn't necessarily be from divorce.  It can be from separation from your spouse.  You must be very careful at this point.  The enemy will use this opportunity to tempt you and whisper lies in your ear.  The only offense is to surround yourself with God's Word and remember that your help comes from above.  Listen to upbeat spiritual music, pray, and worship God for strength. 

Don't believe me?  Read it for yourself and pray for your own revelation.

 Malachi 10 - 16

Breaking Covenant Through Divorce

¹⁰ Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?

¹¹ Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. ¹² As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove him from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings an offering to the Lord Almighty.

¹³ Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. ¹⁴ You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

¹⁵ Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

¹⁶ “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty.

So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

Standing Strong For Marriage

Celestine A. Gatley 
A Designed Transformation 

Self-Help Resources

Be Nice - Really

All I can say is wow!  After reading Revelations 20, it confirms that you have to be real careful how you treat other people. I can't say that enough.  During our day to day activities, we do not think about the results of our actions.  We don't think about judgment or death.  But maybe we should.  One thing for sure, everybody will die one day.  That is not something that we can change.  What does matter is how we live our life while still in the land of the living. 

The books will be opened...you know the book of life and death.  The interesting part is that what will be found in it.  Every little thing that you have done.  You will be judged by your actions.  Good or bad.  If your name is not in the book of life, then I hate it for you.  Oh so sad for you. That really makes me want to do right. 

Some say what you don't know won't hurt you.  Well, I disagree.  What you don't know will have you burning in hell for eternity.  I know that fire is hot.  Could you imagine what hell must feel like.  The tormenting fire, screaming people wanting to get out but can't.  Sounds pretty horrible, right. 

As a child, if we stick our hand in the fire and get burned, we now that it wouldn't be a good idea to do it again.  Same thing here.  Try it.  Stick your hand on a hot surface...joking here.  But really, imagine the pain millions of times worse than you could ever imagine.  This is called motivation to treat people like you want them to treat you. 

Hold your thoughts captive.  Don't let anything come out of your mouth.  The word you speak just might be detrimental to some else.  No one is perfect.  Everybody has spoken a strong word or two.  It doesn't mean you are going to hell for all eternity.   But you can if you don't ask for forgiveness and turn from your wicked ways....just a thought. 

Don't believe me?  Here is the scripture:

 

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Jesus Is In Me

Celestine A. Gatley 
A Designed Transformation 

 Self-Help Resources

Release the Blessings

A New Year brings new hopes for accomplishing things that we could not get done the previous year.  We make all kinds of New Year Resolutions.  We make plans to be healthier, change financial habits, continue education, be a better person, and the list goes on and on and on.  If you expect those big blessings that you have been praying for, but not giving God his glory, then chances are they won't come true.

I am so not trying to rain on your parade.  If you don't pay your tithes, then you are not under God's protection.  Forget a blessing, you are not even close.  You are on your own.  You are robbing God.  Sorry.  But if you pay your tithes, you will be blessed.  Not only in finances, but in all areas of your life.   No, I am not saying you can buy the favor of God.  What I am saying is that you are proving your faith by giving a small percentage of what you make to God.  You are trusting God with your money.  You definitely don't want to be under a curse because you robbed God.  Your blessings are waiting.  You have to trust God to receive it.  You trust him, but you say you don't believe in tithes.  Well, God says show me that you trust me by paying your tithes.  That is the way you show God that you trust him.

If you take care of God's House, he will take care of your house.

Don't believe me?  Read Malachi 6 - 12

Breaking Covenant by Withholding Tithes

⁶ “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. ⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
⁸ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. ¹¹ I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. ¹² “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

Celestine A. Gatley 
A Designed Transformation 

Self-Help Resources