CAUSE AND EFFECT --- A GROWTH MINDSET
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch: YouTube: Wade Hughes)
GROWTH: to increase in size or substance, progressive development, one can improve their talents and capacities by EFFORT and PERSISTENCE.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Do we have areas in our daily lives that have need of improvement? There is a tendency that we are prone to STAY THE SAME because we are creatures of HABIT. Good healthy growth requires a strategy --- a plan, and EFFORT. We must be honest enough to say: I NEED TO CHANGE and IMPROVE MY ATTITUDES, WORDS AND ACTIONS. This problem, this struggle, this obstacle is an opportunity to learn and improve me, my family, my church and our society.
HEALTHY GROWTH IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. It is by assimilation of nutriments.
IF YOU AIN’T HAPPY, IT IS LOGICAL THAT NO ONE AROUND YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY. YOU DETERMINE THE HARVEST YOU REAP BY THE EFFORT YOU PUT FORTH. THIS IS KNOW AS CAUSE AND EFFECT.
CAUSE AND EFFECT: direct catalyst or motive that brings about an action. Snow and ice can cause many accidents. Gout is very painful. It is cause by eating red meats and rich protein foods. You will get sunburned if you stay out unprotected in the sun. If you study and work hard you will pass the test. Heavy rain can cause flooding. High levels of stress can produce worry, anxiety and high blood pressure.
The harvest you reap will depend on what kind of seeds you plant. How much you will harvest will depend on what kind of effort and work you invest.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6 (MSG) Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop.
WHAT GROWTH PHILOSOPHY DO WE PRACTICE? MONKEY SEE! MONKEY DO! WE SEE THE GROWTH OF A MONKEY MENTALITY? VS. STABILITY!
Let me identify a CAUSE and EFFECT growth mindset. We ever finish the task before us. We love to be entertained. A monkey has the tendency to jump from branch to branch. Real positive growth comes from being ROOTED and GROUNDED and ESTABLISHED in the WORD and the CHURCH. We can worry and be anxious or we can pray, praise and worship.
Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
THE ENEMY OF GOD USES THE SAME OLD TOOLS. LET US IDENTIFY THE EXTREMES OF ANYTHING CAN LEAD TO ABSOLUTE FAILURE. To have healthy growth we need stability --- BALANCE WITH FLEXIBILITY.
ARISTTOLE WAS A GREEK PHILOSOPHER THAT LIVED BEFORE CHRIST. ARISTOTLE SUGGESTED LIVING IN THE EXTREMES IS HARMFUL. JESUS TAUGHT THIS. THERE ARE TWO VICES: EXCESS OR DEFICIENCY. We must refine our growth patterns to align with God’s words. We need Godly principles. APATHY AND LAZINESS can kill. So can enthusiastic ignorance. WE ARE A SUM TOTAL OF OUR DAILY CHOICES!
WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART WILL COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. KNOW THE TRIGGER? DO WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE? IS IT POSSIBLE TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF DAILY ADDICTIVE PATTERNS?
To require to justify and expect certain actions and decision. Will we be responsible for our words, actions and attitudes? Real healthy growth needs to BE EVALUATED. External evaluation but the real goal of healthy growth is INTERNAL EVALATION: SELF CHECKS AND BALANCES. Do we understand WHAT TRIGGERS OUR TINKING AND BEHAVIOR PATTERNS? Your heart teams with your mouth to expose the overflow of what you love. You will find time in your daily growth for what you love. THE CAUSE? THE EFFECT?
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
WHAT TICKS YOU OFF MIGHT REVEAL WHAT MAKES YOU TICK? DO YOU HAVE A GOT YOU SPOT?
Proverbs 14:29 (MSG) Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
WHY? CAUSE AND EFFECT? HAVE WE LOST OUR FOCAL POINT? WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY PASSION? MY ZEAL? SOME SAY: MY LOVE HAS DIED. IF YOUR LOVE DIED IT IS BECAUSE YOU STARVED IT TO DEATH.
Many will die on the sidelines for the lack of passion. Guard your mind and your heart. PROTECT YOUR FIRST LOVE WITH ZEAL, ENTHUSIAM AND PASSION. Passion brings purpose to our families and our church. Remember when you were dating. Remember when you first were married. Quit withholding what you should love giving.
Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT WE NEED YOU TO EXPOSE THE CAUSE SO WE CAN CORRECT AND PROTECT THE EFFECT.
Revelation 2:4 (MSG) But you walked away from your first love—why? What's going on with you, anyway?
TO REALLY UNDERSTAND EFFECT WE MUST FOCUS ON THE CAUSE. HOLY SPIRIT BRING A NEW HOPE,A NEW PEACE AND RE-IGNITE OUR PASSION AND PURPOSE! JESUS WITHOUT VISION WE WILL PERISH AND NOT SEE THE CAUSE AND EFFECT. THE FRUIT WILL ROT ON THE VINE.
Let us not underestimate how important attitudes and focus can be on CAUSE AND EFFECT. It is so easy to focus on the howling winds and the terrible storms that is tossing our little boats around? Can we survive this storm. Sure if we will stay FOCUSED ON JESUS.
Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Sure there are hard trials and struggles we are facing. The solution seems to elude us. What will we do? We must stay focused on the cross of Jesus Christ. How easy is it to talk about the pain and hurt that could destroy us? My friend, we must stay FOCUSED THAT OUR GOD IS AN AWLSOME GOD and he still reigns. The cause? The effect? Worry, fear about what tomorrow may hold. Lift your head, yield not to depression. Depression could crush us and cause us to look back. We must refuse to focus on the hurt and bitterness. Come, let us focus on trusting the God that had a plan to rescue his people through the Red Sea. We must never plant the seeds of doubt in our hearts and minds.
HAVE WE DEVELOPED A DISTORTION IN OUR VISION? ARE WE NEARSIGHTED? FARSIGHTED? OR HAVE WE DEVELOPED TUNNEL VISION? HOLY SPIRIT OPEN THE EYES OF OUR HEART THAT WE FOCUS ON ETERNITY’S VALUES.
Life is temporal? Will we sell our potential for a look back?
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG) We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
Let us recall the old parable from India. There are five blind men gathered around an elephant. One feels the tail and says it is a snake. One feels the leg, it is a tree stump. One feels the tusk and says it is a horn. One feels the side and says it is leather. The trunk a water spout? The story is we all see in part, they disagree with each other. We need communication and to understand and respect others opinions. Identify the cause and effect in you daily life.
CONCLUSION: We hear so much today that God knows your name! That is true. Know this GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH EFFORT AND TIME YOU ARE INVESTING TO GROW AND DEVELOP. God help us renew our passion and first love. Remember your vows to love, honor and cherish? STUDY CAUSE AND EFFECT. Are you in a spiritual prison of sameness because you refuse to see the CAUSE? Let us study: CAUSE and EFFECT!
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
My dad pastored over 60 years and he closed his prayers with: “LORD, HELP US TO LIVE WITH ETERNITIES VAULUES IN VIEW FOR THERE IS TOO MUCH TO GAIN TO LOSE.”
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Watch YouTube: Wade Hughes)
