Powerful Beyond Measure

“In her book A Return to Love, bestselling author Marianne Williamson writes eloquently about the instinct within us that recognizes our God-given gifts: 

Powerful beyond measure!

What a grand thought.  And so is this one …

We are adequate. 

Holding lofty thoughts of oneself is a very good thing.  It is an act of faith.  If God gave us the insight to dream and have goals then we are honoring what has been placed inside of us by exploring the possibilities of our greatness.  Belief and faith are the essence of honoring God. 

Nothing worthwhile has been accomplished without the ingredient of faith in action.  People who perform significant acts believe on some deep level that they are adequate – yeah, more than adequate to perform the task at hand. 

And when they reach the end of their own limits, they seek others to join their dream team.  They continue building, planning, and dreaming until one fine day the dream becomes real and you can touch it, look at it, hold it, and experience it. 

I really do believe we are powerful beyond measure.

Do you?

P Michael Biggs

Up-Words.net

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Is God Mad at Us

If there is an idea that needs to circle the globe it is this:

That is one of the most liberating thoughts one could hear.

We are accepted.

     We are loved.

          We are cherished.

God is very fond of you.

A story:

One day I had a conversation with a friend of mine.  I asked what her God concept was and she began a litany of the typical phrases one might expect to hear.

I stopped her at one point and commented that that is well and good, but what do you really think about God?

She thought for a moment and said …

“I think God is mad at me.”

I asked questions and she continued.

“Once, when Jen (her only child) was a little girl, I was boiling some water on the stove.  She went over to the pot when I wasn't looking, reached for it and poured the water on her head.

“God must hate me to let something like that happen.”

How does one respond to a comment like this? 

I think the finest example of how God views us is told in the story of the prodigal son. 

In my own words and understanding, the son was restored to his rightful place as a SON, not as a slave/servant. 

He expected to have to go and live with the pigs. 

What he got was restoration along with the best robe, the signet ring, new sandals, and a banquet with the best food, the best drink and great merriment. Luke 15:11-32

The words the son heard were the same words God offers to each of us.

Welcome my son/my daughter.

Welcome home.

Come on up to the big house where you belong.  The covers are turned down, a warm bath is prepared for you, and there is plenty of food on the table. 

That sounds like an accepting God to me.  He’s not mad at all.  He’s offering love, a place at the table. 

God IS Grace.

God IS Love.

God IS Forgiveness.

Is God mad at you?

Not even a little bit!

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

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Press On

When you have a dream

When your dreams turn to dust

Press on

When love comes along

When love leaves you in the dust

Press on

When you’re on top of the world

When you’re down in the dumps

Press on

When life lays the golden egg in your lap

When you lay a bad egg

Press on

When you are happy

When you are in tears

Press on

When people cheer you on

When people jeer on you

Press on

When you feel great

When you feel like grousing

Press on

When you have bucks

When you are broke

Press on

When love bowls you over

When love blows past you

Press on

When the ideas flow

When the ideas cease

Press on

In good times, 

                          in bad, 

in happiness and joy, 

                         and in sadness and sorrow, 

Always

            – Always 

                            – Always 

- Press On!

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

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One Word at a Time

The Beginning

Everything starts at the beginning.  Duh?!

Really now, keep reading.  This gets better.

The ‘beginning’ that I speak of is this:  “I can!”

If you don’t see the possibility in the seed of your dream, why dream?  If you don’t believe you can do the thing, well, you can finish my thought.

Ah, but when a person has the belief factor then things happen. 

I have a collection of phrases that all say basically the same thought. 

The thought is Earl Nightingale’s classic - You can if you believe you can.

Christ said it this way:  “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”

See the thread that runs here? 

It’s about thinking and believing, dwelling upon and cogitating, mulling and meditating.  And for best results begin at the beginning.

Begin believing in your dream, otherwise why dream?

My friend runs a large retail store in South Carolina.  He had the unfortunate experience of having an employee embezzle a rather large sum of money from this store.  Chuck could have closed the doors soon after, but he didn't.  He still saw a viable business and had the faith factor to go back the next day and the next, put the key in the lock, and turn the lights on.

I imagine on some days he felt it was useless, but that was some days, not every day.  His overriding thought has been “Go, do, open, work, recover, and redeem what has been stolen.”

And he is surviving.

What are you thinking?

What plagues your life or business?

Be encouraged. 

Christ said it, and I want to repeat it - “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”

That sounds like a safe version of the Law of Attraction to me.

Believe!

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

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People will Never Forget

I’m a huge fan of this Maya Angelou quote.  I never want to get far from practicing it.

“People will never forget 

how you made them feel”

This week, a long-time friend and I corresponded.  In 1993 my friend Michael sent me a personal note that was a life-changer for me.   Because of the very personal nature I’ll refrain from posting the contents here, however, it had its impact and even twenty years later it still influences me in good and positive ways. 

Michael’s note remains as a wonderful example of the Maya Angelou quote used above. 

So, how can you and I continue making this kind of impact?

~We build up others.

~We find ways of adding value to the individual, encouraging their dream, letting them know just how special we find them to be.

When we walk with others through hard times, sometimes we give more than words of comfort in the present moment.  We build something inside of them that lasts, perhaps forever. 

What can you do today to impact someone?

What can you say today to cause such a resonance within one’s soul that they are impacted for the rest of their life?

That is the essence of “people will never forget how you

made them feel”.

Let us continue the dance of life.  Let us laugh and talk, sing and waltz to the memories we share, and let’s shower each other with words and expressions of love and friendship and esteem.

I’ll never forget how you made me feel.

P Michael Biggs

www.Up-words.net

Offering Hope

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The Invitation

I love invitations.  I love getting them in the mail and working them into our schedule.  Invitations mean lots of things

We’re invited

 We’re accepted

  Our presence is desired

   We are thought of

    We are highly

     esteemed 

      We are chosen

       We are wanted

My friend Chuck Wallington reminded me recently that in the Gospels, Christ is recorded saying the word “come” more than any other verb.  The words repent, change, or get fixed didn't make the most used list.  Christ used the word “come’.

Come unto me all you who labor and are heaven laden.  I will give you rest. 

(Matt: 11:28)

Come ye apart and rest a while.

  (Mark 6:31)

Bring (come and cast) all your cares to/on Him, for He cares for you.

(I Peter 5:7)

Come, follow me and I will make you fisher’s of men.

(Mark 1:7)

He that comes to me I will not cast out.

(John 6:37)

Come down, for today I must abide in your house.

(Luke 19:5 – the invitation to Zacchaeus)

"And the spirit and the bride say "come."  And let him that hears, come.  And let him that is thirsty come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Revelations 22:17

These examples sound like the inviting God I would love to know more about.  I don’t hear condemnation in His words.  He uses words like “draw closer, be still, and come down”. 

If we were in the south, He would probably say to someone “Why don’t we go over there under that nice Maple tree.  Let’s sit a spell and drink some ice tea.” 

Be sure and note the invitation is to everyone.  E V E R Y O N E !

No color restrictions.

No language misunderstood.

No clothing guidelines.

No passport needed.

If you’re totin’, bring your six-gun.

Now that is one invitation that gets my attention.

What about you?

He’s inviting.

Are you gonna show up?

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

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A Cranky Old Man (Poem)

(An anonymous poem left by a 92-year-old man who died in an Australian nursing home)

What do you see nurses?                 

     What do you see?

What are you thinking

     when you're looking at me?

A cranky old man,

     not very wise

Uncertain of habit                            

     with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food

     and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice          

     'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seems not to notice                  

     the things that you do.

And forever is losing

     a sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not             

     lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding     

     the long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking?

     Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse   

     you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am              

     as I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding,

     as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten

     with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters

     who love one another

A young boy of Sixteen

     with wings on his feet

Dreaming that soon now

     a lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at twenty

     my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows

     that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now

     I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide

     and a secure happy home?

A man of thirty

     my young now grown fast,

Bound to each other

     with ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons         

     have grown and are gone,

But my woman is beside me

     to see I don't mourn.

At fifty, once more,

     Babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children

     my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me

     my wife is now dead.

I look at the future

     I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing

     young of their own.

And I think of the years

     and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man

     and nature is cruel.

It's jest to make old age

     look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles

     grace and vigor, depart.

There is now a stone

     where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass

     a young man still dwells,

And now and again

     my battered heart swells

I remember the joys

     I remember the pain.

And I'm loving and living

     life over again.

I think of the years, all too few

     gone too fast.

And accept the stark fact

     that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people

     open and see.

Not a cranky old man

Look closer                     See ME!!

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

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Outrageous Love

Have you ever been to an AA meeting?  These are meetings for people caught in the grip of alcohol or drug addiction and they hang out with other recovering individuals a couple of times each week. 

The meetings always include opportunities for any member to share and their sharing goes something like this …

“Hello.  I’m John, and I’m an alcoholic.”

Or

“Hello.  I’m Tracy, and I’m an addict.”

The group always responds with “Hello Tracy.”  “Hello John.’

What if we approached God in this manner?

“Hello God.  I’m Judy, and I’m a prostitute.”

“Hello God.  I’m David and I looked at porn last Thursday.”

“Hello God.  I’m Charlie and I stole some money from my work place.

“Hello God.  I’m Jenny and I’m an addict.”

“Hello God.  I’m Jerry and I’m not as righteous as others think I am.”

Name any trap we humans can fall into and there you have

the gist of what I’m saying.

And after our greeting, God simply responds with ...

“Hello ___ (name).  I love you!”

That’s it. 

“I love you.”

He doesn't say –

   “Where have you been you lowlife?”

   “Why did you do that again?”

   “Don’t you know to avoid those places?”

No.  God doesn't say that.

He says “I love you.”

“I Love You.”

In the Bible, there is a story of a wayward son and a forgiving father.  The younger son asked for and received his inheritance early so that he could go and live a life of pleasure and indulgence.

After he spent all of his money, he decided to return to his Father. 

When he was a long way off, the Father saw him and RAN to him. 

He RAN to his repentant son.  The son could hardly get the words out of his mouth before the Father was giving orders.

“Bring the best robe.”

“Kill the fatted Calf.” 

“We’re throwing a party for my returning son.”

That is an amazing image of God.

He’s not looking to do us in.  He’s looking for ways to show us extravagance, and hope, and love, and redemption.

That’s a great word – REDEMPTION!

After a life of wandering and carousing, the FATHER simply says, “ I've missed you.  Welcome home.  Take your rightful place as my son/daughter.  And above all – above all else I love you.  I really love you.”

You and I receive that extravagance every moment of our lives.  Are we accepting the gift?

P Michael Biggs

www.Up-Words.net

Offering Hope

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The Presence in the Absence

The remedy for empty is full.

The remedy for hunger is food.

We don’t enjoy being without, do we?

Absence feels like …

Loneliness

   Restlessness

      Abandonment

Know this … even in the most desolate moments, when you feel the world has closed its doors; even then, you are never alone and you are not abandoned.  God hears your cries.

Spend some time with these encouraging words.

Deuteronomy 31:8

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Isaiah 12:2

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.

Jeremiah 1:8

"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Lamentations 3:25

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him;

Luke 12:

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

And the peace comes!

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

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