For me it’s this…

I don’t desire religion, but intimacy! Alone in this quiet place, I seek You alone. Your wisdom and truth. Please cause seeds of righteous in me to grow and bear fruit. I’m sick of futile fleshly attempts at passion! Be my sole desire, oh Song of my heart!

Unashamed, I seek You from the deep place of my heart; a place very few have seen. With all You’ve done for me, You deserve it! You deserve everything! Point out the areas I’m gripping and not giving You.

My God! Your mercy is so incredible! Nothing like it! Be glorified through my life Lord! How I need You, for I am such a wretched man!

I work in sales.

“Most people aren’t willing to do the hard work it takes to make selling easy.”

I woke up this morning with little motivation. Having a little time before I had to be anywhere or do anything, I decided to do something that I haven’t done in a while; STUDY. Really, I just started reading a book; “Sales Bible,” written by Jeffrey Gitomer, the originator of the above quote.

Not only did this small action step deposit some excitement in me, I gained some great insights to my field of work!

We all do things. Most of us would like to get better at those things we do. Well, the older I get, the more I realize that there IS a formula to get better at something;

WORK + SACRIFICE = GETTING BETTER

or sometimes…

WORK x SACRIFICE = GETTING MORE BETTER (incorrect English intended)

My goal; to spend at least half an hour everyday working to get better at the things I do.

How about you?

@ideiru

I’ve been doing some thinking lately, on positive self-though; no PON intended. Most specifically, our thoughts toward ourselves when we make a mistake.

There is a life-long adage: Whatever you think you are, you are.

So how do you think about yourself when making a mistake? Well, if you’re like me this morning; “I’m such an idiot!” or “I feel like a huge d-bag!”

It occurred to me shortly after, that this was not very positive thinking toward myself. Yes, I screwed up, and potentially could have ruined someone else’s day. However, if our words have power, our thoughts must as well.

So, I made a mistake this morning. I also forgave myself this morning. Thankfully so did the other person whose day I almost ruined.

Remember you become what you think you are. That’s one reason why reading the Bible is so important; it portrays how God thinks about you, which is better than what you think about you 100% of the time.

So be an eagle and soar today! Don’t let yourself turn into another quack!

Twitter: @ideiru
Fb: Costa Deir

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls,18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:17-19 NASB)

I’ve been asked many times, as I’m sure you have as well, “Why should I believe in God?” Recently, my answer has been different than usual; “Why not?”

Never mind the fact that throughout my entire life I’ve seen blessing and favor in ways that I don’t deserve, another simpler reason comes to mind. No matter what situation I’ve been in, good or bad, hope has always been a factor.

Hope.

My future is not bleak.

I know that in the darkest of circumstances there’s more going on than what I can see with my eyes.

#ThankYouGod

Twitter: @ideiru
FB: Costa Deir

That’s a side note to what I have to say here; for free. You’re welcome.

Recently, I’ve had to make some responsible choices. You know, those ones none of us want to make but we know we should? While I’ve been in the daily flow of these things, I have set aside my usual quiet time.

You might think you know where I’m going with this, “Your quiet time is like those vitamins, and you need it everyday.” While this might be somewhat true, that’s not where I’m going.

I was voicing my concern about this going on in my life to someone I highly respect and the response put me at ease.

You see, as a Christian, I try to live my life as Jesus would. And though we see Jesus going to the mountain to pray quite often, more often we read about Him doing things that are “tangible” or “practical”. I’m not trying to minimize the importance and the strength that it brings to spend time alone with God, I’m just realizing that other things can be equally as important. Working to pay off debt, finishing a paper for school, spending time with friends or family; all can be equally as “spiritual” things to do as spending alone time with God.

I hope this puts some of you at ease as it did me.

And don’t forget your vitamins.

twitter: @ideiru
fb: Costa Deir

Many people would say that in order to share your thoughts about a certain subject, you should have some sort of proven track record, or at least know what you’re talking about. I would agree. However, at times, it’s the talking about it that begins that proverbial track record.

Let me start out with an obvious question: How many of you want to be successful? Well, I hope the answer was 100% in the ‘yes’ category! But allow me to ask a lesser obvious follow-up question: How many of you are willing to do what it takes to be successful?

I think you see where I’m going with that one.

You see, we have so many “New-Year’s-Resolution” moments in our lives, and so little times to we spend the CONSISTENT and PERSISTENT effort it takes to bring those thoughts into fruition.Notice I’m including myself in this; that’s why I said that it takes talking (or blogging) about things to make them happen.

So here’s my challenge; I recently stumbled upon a youtube clip by Robin Sharma titled “How to wake up at 5!” Now you may be wondering if you want to continue reading this, I don’t blame you [insert smile here]. When I saw the title I was instantly interested as I’m one of those freaks that like to get up at hours that shouldn’t even exist on an alarm clock! So, I watched the 5 min clip.

There is so much to be said for taking some time for yourself, before you start the insanity of your day. For the last week I’ve been waking up around 6-7 (I made it up at 5:00 once). In the time that I would normally get an extra hour of sleep I’ve started to journal, read, and exercise a little.

Is this hard? Yes!

But I can tell you that for the last week, I’ve been more clear minded when I get to work; happier, and in result, more successful.

I challenge you to do the same!

Let me know how it goes:
twitter: @ideiru
fb: Costa Deir

“There used to be a lean-to up on Mt. Marcy by the waterfall, but they had to take it down cuz people was puttin feces in the water.”

Infamous quote by new Dibor student Michael Harris Jr. as we were eating Lunch halfway through our day hike in the Adirondack mountains. Our goal: to summit Mt. Colden; one of the tougher hikes the High Peaks region has to offer. Our plan of action was to hike in six miles, stop for lunch under a lean-to, climb for 2 miles, and then return with a sense of accomplishment.

Well, this mission ended up way out of our reach. We did make it to the lean-to where we enjoyed a wonderful view from the bottom of the mountain. By the end of our trip, our legs were sore and we looked a little battered….and we hadn’t even begun to do what we had really come to do.

How often do we become complacent at the bottom of the MOUNTAINS in our lives, settling for the view at the bottom, rather than spilling all we have to overcome? Why do we journey so far to sit at the bottom of some of the mountains in our lives? Some of us are too scared, or we’re waiting on others to show us the way. We have followed the Lord’s leading to an extent that we’re comfortable with, but we’re unwilling to brave the ascent.

One of the aspects that is so awesome about Dibor, is the atmosphere that cultivates climbing those spiritual mountains together! For some it’s a slow process, for some it’s instant; nevertheless, the Lord is giving us grace to do it!

I tend the bar at your Watertown, NY Ruby Tuesday. I get to cross paths with many walks of life; Traveling businessmen and women who trek across the pavement from the Holiday Inn, those who serve in our United States Army, local fathers and daughters. Men who have fear, yet act like they have none; those who are chasing all that this world has to offer, and those who can’t seem to run from the feeling that there must be more.

Right on the brink of one of the coolest moments of my High School life someone told me, “take in this moment, don’t let it slip away without giving it everything you’ve got!” Those words were said as a quaint encouragement, but I haven’t been able to shake them since.

You see, we all have a story, one with highs and lows, successes and disappointments, times of glory and times of feeling like a nobody. I’m a Christian (follower of my Lord and Maker Jesus Christ), and I’m still learning much about the Rock on which I stand; but one thing I’ve learned, He’s the only constant thread woven into the story of my life.

That constancy is what gives me strength to live life, giving it everything I’ve got! Though I fail, I know there’s something that will not change! Though I grow older and wearier (i made that word up), He is not a fad that passes like minutes.

So I’ve got to say this to all of you, especially those of you whom I have personally have met around that raised rectangular bar table in Watertown, “give it everything you’ve got! Don’t let this life slip away and realize you’ve given it anything less! And when you find yourself in a place with no strength left, throw yourself upon the Rock that is higher than YOU!”

That’s my message for now! There is a perfect love that covers a multitude of sin, and casts out all fear!