Yesterday I was playing basketball with the neighborhood kids. One of the kids was on the team that was losing and he kept getting down saying that he couldn't have fun because they were losing. As soon as this mental shift happened his play got a lot worse because he wasn't playing hard any more. 

So I told him that when I played baseball in college I once had a series of bad games because I was putting too much pressure on myself to do well. Then I decided to focus on enjoying playing the game, rather than stressing over winning and losing. When I made the mental switch all of the sudden my results improved and I had several of the best games of my college career. 

I told him the key was to have fun first. Enjoy playing the game and then you will be more likely to win, but if you have to win to enjoy the game then you are less likely to win. 

Then all of the sudden he started having fun and playing great. 

This can be applied to pretty much anything. Focus on finding joy in the p...

The other day I was getting started with my workout and wasn't feeling it. But then I remembered that while playing baseball in college some of my best games happened when I wasn't feeling the best. 

There was one game when I felt horrible in warm-ups and then had one of my best games. 

So I continued with my workout, did some extra warm-ups, and actually set a couple of new bests. 

In life there will be times when we are not feeling it. It could be your kids or spouse want to do something with you, working out, working on a project, reading the Bible, prayer time, etc. Often some of the greatest breakthroughs and memories happen in the times when we are not feeling it. 

At the end of 2018 I felt a nudge that God wanted me to work on a yearly plan with him. So the day after Christmas I sat upstairs working on my plan and when I finished my daughter was playing with a toy ice cream set. She said " I need to get back to selling my ice cream." So I asked how she sells her ice cream and she said " 61." I asked several times because her answer made no sense and she kept responding with "61." 

Then I heard on the inside " Go read Isaiah 61." 

Isaiah 61 is the passage that Jesus reads from the scroll and the title of that chapter is The Year of the Lord's Favor. 

After this confirmation there were many ups and downs through the year but the end result was that God prompted me to shut down my gym business at the end of 2019 and start a new business called the Abundant Life Training Center. 

At the time when I was transitioning it didn't all make sense but I knew God was prompting me to make the shift. Looking back now it has been a tremendous blessing sinc...

It was on the day of Pentecost at around 9am that the Holy Spirit came in like a rushing wind. The disciples were told by Jesus to wait until they were clothed with power from on high and now the Holy Spirit was empowering them. 

Take some time today to remember that we have been given the Holy Spirit to empower us and guide us in our every day lives. 

Lately I have been working out with a different mindset. I am not working out to improve, to get leaner, to build muscle, or to get in shape. I have purely focused on how good it feels to exercise and move. It feels good to get your body more mobile, stretch, run, jump, work, and be strong.

The funny thing is that my workouts are actually progressing faster with this mindset than with the mindset of trying to make progress. And working out is something to look forward to each day. 

As an example, I have a 5 minute run I have done several times over the last 2 months and I have been tracking how far I run in those 5 minutes. Yesterday, I did the same run and just focused on enjoying running. I ended up easily setting a new best and it was fun in the process. 

All new thoughts start small like a seed, but the more we think about them and meditate on them the bigger and stronger they grow. Eventually those thoughts become our automatic way of thinking. This is true of both good thoughts and bad thoughts. 

We all have patterns of thought or said another way a habitual thought pattern. This pattern is created based on what we focus on the most. The more we focus on something the stronger it grows. 

Changing our thought patterns can take some work because to remove an old pattern requires us to stop focusing on the old thought and to replace it with a new thought. But, this new thought starts as a seed, and it needs time to grow and strengthen to the point where it becomes our automatic way of thinking. We know it has truly become automatic when pressure arises in life and we keep our focus. 

Quick Summary

To change our thought patterns we must change what we are focused on, and then continuing strengthening this new focus until it becomes a...

We are getting close to Pentecost ( May 29th), which is the bridge to the 2nd half of the year. 

Music creates a bridge as it brings people together, like a universal language. 

Music is also like a bridge in that if you are ever trying to figure out how to connect 2 ideas listening to music can help bridge the gap. There is something powerful about music that can help you figure out issues you have been trying to solve. 

Music gets you into rhythm and flow. In the Old Testament prophets often used music to hear from God. 

I think one of the best ways to hear from God is by combining music with prayer. 

In my book Cracking Heaven's Code music is the very center of all the codes, which means it boosts energy, improves your bodies rhythms, and get you into a better mental flow. 

If you are ever low on energy, in a bad emotional state, or struggling trying to figure out the next steps, try combining prayer and music together. 

We are getting close to the day of Pentecost ( May 29th) and a big theme for this time of year is balance. 

I once read a story of a billionaire who said that he felt physical exercise helped him make better decisions in his business. 

He said that he felt the spirit, mind, and body must all stay in balance when it comes to exercise. If he felt stuck mentally he would exercise his physical body and bring his body back into balance. 

For many people their work is mostly mental these days.  If this is the case then getting regular workouts and adding small amounts of exercise throughout your work day can make a big difference by balancing out your body. 

For example, you can stop every so often and stretch or do a few pushups. The other thing I have found helpful is to do some physical work on off days. 

We are getting close to Pentecost ( May 29th). Pentecost is the midpoint of the year on God's calendar. It's the bridge to the other side. There are 3 feasts in the Spring and 3 feasts in the Fall, with Pentecost in the middle connecting the 2 sides. 

In the Old Testament God's laws and the 10 commandments were given on Pentecost and in the New Testament the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost. In both instances a guide for life was given. When the Law was given 3,000 people died that day but when the Holy Spirit came 3,000 people were saved that day. The letter of the law kills but the Spirit gives life. 

We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. He creates a bridge helping us connect with God and partner with him in life. The Holy Spirit allows us to synchronize our lives with God. 

But, for any partnership to work trust is required. Trust also creates a bridge allowing people to work together. A big theme for this season is trust. 

Another bridge in our lives...

Years ago while teaching kindergarten Sunday school there would always be one kid who was very disruptive. But there would also be a few kids that would stay focused no matter what was going on. The battle was to keep the kids in the middle focused, because they would usually get distracted by the one kid who was disruptive. 

We are a 3 part being spirit, soul(mind and emotions), and physical body. The battle is for the middle - the mind and emotions. 

Pentecost ( May 29th) is coming up and is the middle of the year on God's calendar.  Here is how to win the middle...

When negative thoughts and images pop up in your mind develop the habit of switching your focus back onto whatever is true, noble, lovely, pure, of good report, and praise worthy. Meditate on these things.