Words from the SoapBox

If a recent national poll is any indication, home energy improvements stand to take a big hit in the coming year. The survey released last week by the Shelton Group, indicates federal energy saving incentives and rebates were the primary motivating factor behind Americans decisions to make energy efficiency changes to their homes. Now with incentives and rebates coming to an end the expected outcome is less spending in that direction as American tighten their belts once more to deal with rising gas prices at the pumps.

This news comes just as many of these federal incentives are set to expire and the incentive budget has been slashed.

Each year Shelton Group conducts four national polls examining the state of power in the United States and how consumers are saving electricity and why. The February 7th poll revealed 23% of Americans received a rebate or financial incentive for home energy efficiency improvements. 25% said they would not have made the changes without the incentives. So you can see by these numbers once incentives have been slashed naturally this will reflect a decline in energy saving spending by Americans.

“At a time when money is tight for all Americans, this survey reveals just how valuable and motivating these incentives are,” says Jeffrey Mayer, President and CEO of MXenergy, a leading independent energy provider. “I believe most Americans want to make efficiency changes and improvements. For many people, the rebates and incentives may make the difference between their ability to make changes or being forced to stay with the status quo.”

The new tax law dramatically reduces incentives on many improvements from 30% of cost to 10%. It also lowers caps on many improvements as well. This will have a devastating effect on energy saving improvements being made to homes since the write offs that were once available are no longer in existence or are far less rewarding than before. As much as some homes need the upgrades to make them energy efficient many home owners simply cannot afford to make the investments without government incentives.

“This does not mean homeowners should abandon their efficiency improvement plans,” continues Mayer. “What it does represent is a call for all of us in the energy business, from utilities to retailers and manufacturers, to look at what new and creative incentives we can provide to help consumers in this process.” Mayer is very passionate about energy conservation as well as green energy and anything that is oriented towards renewable energy which he believes is the future, as well as the correct direction for energy companies to take. MXenergy has therefore started several initiatives in this direction. MXenergy Wizard is a site that was started for the purpose of offering energy audits to businesses as well as home owners, and MXearth is an initiative that sells carbon offsets allowing individuals to become carbon neutral.

Among the most common energy improvements, according to the Shelton Group poll, were replacing incandescent bulbs, adding sealing, caulking and weather stripping, adding insulation and purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances.

Author Bio: For MXenergy initiatives on preserving energy and on how to become carbon neutral MXenergy can offer you information on both as well as offering you MXenergy Promotional rates on natural gas as well as electricity in Georgia as well as 15 other deregulated states.

When it comes to building a new home, few people would look to paper, recycled glass and old blue jeans for building materials. However, according to The Center for Green Building in Bridgeport, Connecticut, all of those items provide greater health, energy efficiency and sustainability than the materials most of us are used to using. We Americans are very much behind when it comes to recycling when compared to our European brethren.

Erin Buckley started the eco-friendly building supply business after her husband, a building contractor, was constantly sick. “As we did our research, we discovered that so many of the traditional building materials contain formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals that can be so damaging to our health.”

Some of the more popular items carried by Buckley include solar roof shingles, made from recycled glass which reflects heat away from the roof, and Icestone, composed of recycled glass, and Paperstone, which is made from recycled paper from the local school districts. According to Buckley both of these make for excellent, strong, durable countertops without the health risks of granite.

“Many people don’t realize that granite emits radon gas, which is the leading cause of lung cancer,” says Buckley. “These other materials present a great option for homeowners without the health risks.”

According to Buckley, The Center for Green Building is founded on three basic principles: Health, Energy Efficiency, and Sustainability, “We find people often come in looking for healthy building options and leave being excited about the ability to be energy efficient as well.”

And where do those old blue jeans come in? The Center partners with a company that turns people’s old blue jeans into insulation. Buckley says they have found that the blue jean insulation is three times as effective and lasts six times as long as traditional fiberglass. Making blue jean recycling in to insulation quite a proficient solution to what to do with those old jeans.

The Center and its building supplies were recently featured on “Attainable Sustainables” a program carried on MXTV, a cable channel created by MXenergy, one of the nation’s leading independent energy providers. This company has made it its mission to not only provide reasonable rates for power but to also work with the community an the country in becoming more energy efficient as a whole.

“We are constantly looking for ways to educate our customers and viewers about ways they can become more energy efficient in their own lives,” says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director. “The company offers truly innovative options for people who are building or remodeling their homes. Not only can people make their homes more energy efficient, they can also make them healthier as well.”

In order to educate people about the importance of energy efficiency and other environmental issues, MXenergy has created its own On Demand cable channel, MXenergyTV, or MXTV for short, which can be found on Cablevision iO Channel 654 in the Northeast United States. The piece “Green Home” is just one of many programs focused on energy efficiency and “green living.” The complete story can be found on the MXTV archive at http://mxenergy.com/mxenergytv-video-archive.html.

More information about The Center for Green Building can be found at www.centerforgreenbuilding.com.

Author Bio: For MXenergy initiatives on preserving energy and on how to become carbon neutral MXenergy can offer you information on both as well as offering you MXenergy Promotional rates on natural gas as well as electricity in Georgia as well as 15 other deregulated states.

The temperatures are brutal, the cost of natural gas is on the rise and household budgets are tight. So why are so many homeowners essentially throwing money away each and every month on their home utility bills?

The vast majority of American homes are not energy efficient. A Home Energy Audit can save the average homeowner several hundred dollars annually on their home utility bills. Setting up the audit is as simple as a phone call and government rebates can cover most of the cost. Yet many Americans do not take advantage of these programs or services. The question is Why?

There are a few basic reasons people do not perform home energy assessments according to Mxenergy, one of the nation’s leading independent energy providers.

After speaking with home energy auditors we have learned there are several common reasons why more people don’t complete a home energy audit, says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director.

According to Kass, reasons given for not completing an audit include:

1. Lack of Knowledge About the Program.

2. Time: Fear it will take too long – The typical assessment can be completed in just a few hours so don’t worry about it taking a lot of your time.

3. Fear of Cost – Government rebates can cover the majority of the cost as well as some energy companies will provide you with an energy audit free of charge for their customers.

4. Not Understanding the Benefits – An energy efficient home can save hundreds of dollars annually and provides important environmental benefits as well. If you can get your home energy efficient, your electric and or natural gas usage will reflect the savings in the form of a much lower light or gas bill. This alone should be a motivator when it comes to making your home energy efficient.

“It is unfortunate that more people do not recognize the benefits and take advantage of this important service,” says Kass. “For most Americans money is tight right now and heating a home that is not energy efficient is the equivalent of taking your hard earned dollars and tossing them in the fireplace. Something as simple as a Home Energy Audit can literally save people hundreds of dollars each year and benefit our planet at the same time.”

In order to educate people about the importance of energy efficiency and other environmental issues, MXenergy has created its own On Demand cable channel, MXenergyTV, or MXTV for short, which can be found on Cablevision iO Channel 654 in the Northeast United States. The piece “Home Energy Check-up” is just one of many programs focused on energy efficiency and “green living.” Also you can visit MXenergy Wizard for an energy audit in areas that they service. Also if you want to find some great tips on weatherizing your home you can find that at the wizard site which is one of MXenergies many initiatives.

More information about home energy assessments can be found at the United States Department of Energy website (http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/).

Author Bio: For MXenergy initiatives on preserving energy and on how to become carbon neutral MXenergy can offer you information on both as well as offering you MXenergy Promotional rates on natural gas as well as electricity.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

Everybody loves Christmas. Especially the children. On Christmas, most likely there will be snow falling outside the window next to the hearth. In the kitchen the dining table is filled with delicious foods. There will be a Christmas tree in the living beside the warm and cozy couch, and under the tree, colorful Christmas gifts waiting to be opened on Christmas morning. This is the image that comes to mind when a Christian thinks about Christmas.

But we’ve all heard the story. Christmas is more than just Christmas trees and Christmas gifts and snow falling piling up on roofs. It is much more than that.

The story of Christmas begins with the birth of a savior into the world. People didn’t know it back then, and even now many are more than happy to express their disbelief, but according to the Bible – God’s own words – that is the truth. God promised that He would send us the Messiah that would save us from the eternal damnation of our sins. And not long after, Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day.

“And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:16 (KJV)

The wheels were already set in motion even before Jesus Christ was born into the world. His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, promised that they would become husband and wife when the time comes. One day Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. He told she’d be pregnant and would be carrying the Son of God in her womb. Joseph almost backed out of his promise when he heard this. But in a dream God spoke to him about how important his role was in God’s plans. Soon Mary and Joseph were married and their marriage was blessed with the birth of a healthy young child.

Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Mary had went into labor while she and Joseph were on their way to register for the census. All the inns were taken, and so they had to seek temporary refuge in a nearby stable, where the Savior of Mankind and Son of God would be born into this world.

The angels spread the word of the Savior’s birth and many wise men came to see him. The three wise men also came bringing gifts. This is what makes Christmas so special. Thousands of years ago, on the exact same date of our celebration of the birth of Jesus, the entire world was at peace. As the song goes, it was a holy night indeed.

Today Christmas is perceived to be one of the most popular holidays in the world. People take a step back from their jobs to relax and spend some time with their families. But let’s not forget the true story of Christmas: it is the story of the birth of the Savior and the beginning of the salvation of Mankind.

Author Bio: Are you looking for Bible quotes and verses? Having a hard time with Bible verse search? Satisfy your daily need to communicate with God by reviewing inspiring bible verses at Top Bible Verses.

‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things DONE IN THE BODY, according to what He has done, whether good or bad.’ 2 Corinthians 5:10

It is taught as early as high school that what separates Man from animal is the ability to think. We are much more intelligent than the average orangutan, more talkative than the next parrot, more efficient in hunting for food than the king of the jungle. Human beings aren’t animals. On the food chain, we occupy a much superior class all our own.

But free will is something that could also hurt us in the long run. Most Christians, for instance, prefer to live their own lives and follow their own plans, not even bothering to know what God has planned for them. You are a Christian and yet you may not pray at night. Some Christians only bother to show up to church on Sundays, sometimes even none at all. Many don’t read the Bible past Genesis. Some don’t even know what Genesis is!

It should be noted that your actions in life has a direct impact on the rewards waiting for you in heaven. For those who are in doubt, the Bible speaks for itself…

‘So Jesus answered them and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brother or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or land, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a HUNDREDFOLD now in this time … and in the age to come, eternal life.”‘ Mark 10:29-30

In life, God expects us to make sacrifices, if necessary, in order to live and fulfill the life of a Christian. Yes, we are endowed with free will and God encourages us to use it. But there are situations in life when we are called as Christians to give up what we want to do in order to fulfill God’s wishes, and heavenly rewards await those who are faithful and true believers of Christianity. Jesus Christ gave us this promise as the time comes when we enter the Kingdom of God.

All Christians are aware of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Some Christians believe this is going to be when it will be decided who is entitled to what heavenly rewards in God’s Kingdom. But isn’t it strange that doing good on Earth just so you could look forward to your rewards in heaven, there’s nothing Christian about that logic at all.

A true Christian is one who is selfless and does good regardless of whether there are any rewards waiting for him or her at the end of the journey. Remember that God is watching, and He knows what is inside your heart. He knows who is deserving and undeserving. Only Christians who serve in the name of the Lord and Jesus Christ have heavenly rewards waiting for them when the time comes.

‘… I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you ACCORDING TO YOUR WORKS.’ Revelation 2:23

As a Christian, do your best to perform good deeds with a clean and honest heart. You can be rest assured that God will do the rest.

Author Bio: Are you looking for inspirational Bible verses? Do you wish to recite inspirational Bible quotes to refresh your memory? Satisfy your daily need to communicate with God by reviewing bible verses at Top Bible Verses.

What is self mastery? Believe it or not most people will describe it as having inner peace of being comfortable with the world around you. There are many circumstances that can arise in your everyday life, some of which can be extremely stressful. These situations can be caused by a number of different sources, some of which you can rid yourself of, and some that you will need to deal with through self mastery.

First, you have co-workers, and these are not something that you can get rid of on your own if you are not the manager. In addition to that you will have family members, frustrating experiences, and perhaps even disaster. Can you get rid of these? As sad as it sounds, you cannot circumvent the advent of random chance, and you certainly cannot get rid of your family, but you can at the very least learn to master your environment and keep calm in the face of adverse circumstances.

Self Mastery by Dick Sutphen is one book you can use to take control of the world around you, and there are quite a few individuals that have found its words to be helpful. That being said, you can learn to liberate yourself from aggressive individuals, high expectations that you could never hope to meet, and other conditions that are holding you back from true success. This book presents a method by which you can turn your entire life around and become the person that you have always wanted to be.

It sounds like a fantasy, and it most certainly sounds like something you could never achieve, but now is not the time to lament your misfortune. Instead you should purchase Self Mastery by Dick Sutphen and begin to work on your life through a method that combines Zen philosophy with modern mind programming techniques. This will create a powerful transformation experience never before seen in the modern word, and by using this you will be reaping the benefits of several decades worth of research, and you will have the honor of implementing these strategies into your own life. Are you ready?

If you are, then it’s time to purchase this book and see just what it can do for your life. There is a strong chance that you have been disappointed by false promises and products that simply have not delivered in the past, but Self Mastery by Dick Sutphen is not one of those quick fix books. It is a book that works over time to shape you into the person you’ve always wanted to be. We have the ability to become confident, and we can easily master the world around us, but it all depends on us having the right tools. Do you have the right tools? Are you prepared to become the person you’ve always wanted to be? We thought you might be, and with that being said, it’s time for you to obtain those tools and begin your journey.

Author Bio: Please visit The Personal Development Company if you would like to learn more about Self Mastery by Dick Sutphen

President Obama Rules Defense Of Marriage Act Unconstitutional

by Delwyn Lounsbury – THE DEFLATION GURU

President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder announced on February 23, 2011 that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. They concluded “a more heightened standard of scrutiny” is needed for sexuality types of classifications. So, Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional. DOMA, Section 3, defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman only.

Who is Obama to decide a laws constitutionality? That’s the judical branche’s job or let Congress repeal this mean spirited law. It was a bad idea in the first place. Is this an Obama “wag the dog” to mask his troubles getting the budget approve, his $1.5 trillion budget deficit, cronic unempoyment, and a deflation economy turning into the greater depression?

The Defense of Marriage Act was passed by large majority votes in both houses of Congress and signed into law of the land by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996. It’s Public Law Number 104-199, 110 stat. 2419, if you want to look it up.

Isn’t it the Supreme Court’s job to decide whether a law is unconstitutional or not? The administration is obligated by the Constitution to continue enforcing a law until it is either repealed by Congress or finally declared unconstitutional in court. President Barack Hussein Obama has now told the Justice Department not to defend a federal law. It’s dereliction of duty on Obama’s part. It’s sedition not to obey and uphold a law.

President Obama sedition knows no boundaries. He is also disobeying a brave Federal District Court Judge, Roger Vinson, who recently ruled ObamaCare unconstitutional. The Constitution says the feds can’t make us buy only their health insurance plan and be fined if we don’t. That’s the “individual mandate.” The leftist Democrats in their rush to grow the size of government forgot to put a severability clause in the bloated 2,700 page act. A severalbility clause would let the rest of the act continue if one part was found invalid. ObamaCare that seeks to put 16 percent of a free economy under inefficient government control is, therefore, unconstitutional.

The Constitution was carefully drafted to prevent any future kings, dictators or foreign control. Our founding fathers wanted checks and balances between the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches of government. Obama’s big government socialism is stomping on the other branches of government. He is foreclosing our freedom and our liberty by purposely ruining our Constitution.

Obama also disobeyed a judges ruling he did not have the authority to shut down all oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico during the British Petroleum oil well leak disaster. This makes President Obama’s third sedition by my count. Sedition is disobeying a countries laws and regulations. Sedition carries a 20 year jail sentence plus fine.

DOMA says that no state (or other political body inside the United States) needs to treat as a marriage a same-sex relationship considered a marriage in another state. DOMA, Section 3, defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. DOMA is an unprecedented intrusion by the U.S. Congress into an area usually left to individual states.

I am for states rights. Let each state decide whether they will allow same-sex marriage. All U.S. citizens deserve happiness in their lives. Let’s not discriminate against gay and lesbian couples and their families. DOMA does more harm than good since it prevents same-sex couples from receiving spousal benefits like Social Security. It also does not give them the ability to sponsor a partner for citizenship or the ability to jointly file federal taxes, among many others.

Impeach this seditionist Obama. He put his hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the laws of the land. Is he even a citizen? Let’s see his hand typed long-form certificate of live birth. He has spent over one million dollars of his own money blocking those seeking the truth in this matter. President Obama is turning into a fascist tyrant demigod. This is treason. Think Hitler.

Copyright 2011 by Delwyn Lounsbury – THE DEFLATION GURU
Use of this article allowed with attribution back to:

http://www.deflationeconomy.com

Author Bio: Free 90 page download “Deflation Guidebook.” How to survive and get rich in deflation and the Greater Depression at: http://www.deflationeconomy.com Delwyn Lounsbury – THE DEFLATION GURU is an Eagle Scout

Summary: Public schools said goodbye to teaching knowledge, hello to social engineering. Kids grow up ignorant and empty, feeling like foreigners in their own country.
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The Education Establishment has managed to separate the country’s children from the country. A secret quarantine is in effect; children have been consigned to live in detached bubbles. To a degree rarely seen in history, children are exiles in their own country.

Physically, kids look the same. They are babies in cribs; play in the backyard; have pimples, and become restless teenagers. Little by little, they become adults. You could alter the hairstyle, do a little photo retouching, and all the children would look like the children at the time of the Revolution. Nothing has changed. In appearances, that is.

Inwardly, everything is changed. American children wander forlornly in an alien landscape they know little about and understand less. They have no history, no geography, no math, no science. They’ve been taught to dislike their country. Instead of knowledge, they’ve learned detachment and sarcasm, indifference and boredom. They’ve been systematically deprived of the skills and perspectives that would allow them to enjoy culture or navigate intellectual pursuits.

They are inside the society but curiously outside. Separated from it in the way that a neighborhood’s birds and rabbits exist separately from the humans in the neighborhood. They see each other and warily pass; maybe some minor interaction takes place. But birds and rabbits grasp little about what humans are doing or why. Similarly, children stare uncomprehendingly at those strange creatures, adults, living in some parallel life.

The goal for the country’s children seems to be the attainment of a pleasant emptiness. White marks on a white wall. It’s long been common to say that children’s minds are a blank slate, a tabula rasa. But what American public education has achieved is unprecedented: the tabula remains rasa.

How do we describe this state? An intellectual lobotomy? Cognitive neutering? Certainly not all children are stunted in this way. Perhaps 10% or 20% a receive a good education. I’m talking about great majority of average kids. Soon they’ll be raising kids themselves. They’ll vote. They’ll build a country. Or unbuild it.

How in the world did the Education Establishment create this brave new child? In fact, there are four steps, which can be quickly described:

First, every school has to discard as much information as possible, using whatever pretext is handy. Some facts are not relevant; some are not multicultural; some are politically incorrect; some facts are too difficult for a particular group. It doesn’t matter how you do it. The goal is that everything be thinned until finally you turn chunky beef soup into watery gruel. All the facts taught anywhere in the entire school should not fill up a small book. Now you’re talking.

Second, insist for a hundred reasons that kids not be expected to remember or retain any of this thin fare. Rote memorization is laughed at. Drill and kill is scorned. Teaching to a test is attacked. So, there is little in the school to start with, and little of that ends up in a child’s head.

Third, create easy, preferably subjective tests so that almost everyone gets an A or a B. These good grades suggest that children are mastering a great deal of knowledge. Parents are charmed by all the success. Nowadays educators are coming up with even more devious forms of testing, such as scrapbooks, peer review, and authentic assessment. The drift is away from expecting children to actually know anything specifically. Feelings and opinions are quite enough. Explaining how you approach the problem is praised. Correct answers are frowned upon.

Four, everything in the school and in the classroom must be enveloped in a smog of important-sounding, newfangled methods: constructivism, self- esteem, cooperative learning, critical thinking, national standards, 21st-century skills, and dozens more. Gobbledegook is made flesh. Apparent activity is all-important. In many respects the school is theater, show biz, mime. Teachers pretend to teach; students pretend to learn. At the end of the process, the children know nothing.

Everything that occurs in school is like a dream you had last night or the night before. Surely some interesting things happened. But you can’t say exactly what. It’s all very hazy now. Then even the memory of having a dream is gone. Rasa.

More evilly, what might actually be possible, and even easily achieved, is lost on the wind. In a world where everyone walks with a limp, running is no longer imaginable.

And so children, as never before in history, are turned into eunuchs of the mind. To the degree the Education Establishment can pull it off, children remain knowledge virgins. They are not unhappy. It’s all they’ve ever known, these strangers in a strange land.

(Bruce Deitrick Price writes about education, culture, and language on Improve-Education.org. “47: Teach One Fact Each Day” complements the above article.)

Author Bio: Bruce Deitrick Price is the founder of Improve-Education.org, an outspoken education and intellectual site. One focus is reading; see “42: Reading Resources.” Another focus is education reform; see “38: Saving Public Schools.” Price is an author, artist and poet. His fifth book is “THE EDUCATION ENIGMA–What Happened to American Education.”

Today, Christians are striving in the effort of educating the next generations about Christianity. Indeed, Christian education is no longer being prioritized. In fact, there are some instances that the idea is being laughed at. However, when we think about it, what is the purpose of Christian education? At the end of the day, can students benefit from an educator with a Christian point of view? Before judging the ways of Christians in terms of education, it is important that you understand their goals.

Christian education aims at educating children about the bible. Christianity aims at spreading the truth through the doctrines. It basically creates a theological framework in the minds of the children through tapping their schools and family.

Christian education does not only focus on the children being taught. Rather, it also seeks to assist and reach out to the parents from the Scriptures. In that way, their biblical responsibility in raising and educating the ways of the Lord is carried through successfully. Basically, Christian has always aimed at educating people — regardless of whether that person is a believer or a non-believer.

Christian education gives way to the vital tools used in catechism. On the other hand, this does not mean that Bible teachings will be replaced. Rather, it is more of inculcating the basic concepts of Christianity into the people so that they may easily comprehend the language being used. In this presently modern world, it aims more on increasing the number of people who are being taught of the ways of the Christians.

Teachers, pastors, and other members of the Church are also included in the primary aim of Christian education. It is by training pastors that they will be able to pass on the teachings to the next generations to come. Just like professionals, they are expected to be trained for many years in considering them the “experts”. Pastors, too, need training and education. But, perhaps the most challenging aspect is maintaining spiritual health. Aside from that, pastors need to be well-versed in theology. In other words, this kind of job does not just require a good knowledge of the theory. Rather, they should also live the life of a Christian and maintain their spiritual health.

The development of academic excellence is also one of its goals. The fact is that Christianity promotes education, and it is through acquiring wisdom of their ways that should be known. An inquisitive mind will increase the value of this aim since a good teacher can surpass any type of questions asked of them. It is due to the fact that faith is not easy to develop, and most teachers are not able to answer the queries asked of them in Bible studies. It may be easy to shrug off children’s questions if you, as a teacher, do not understand what is being taught. But, in the end, it is important to remember that Christian education aims at sharing the wisdom of Christianity, and giving people a chance to learn the ways of a Christian.

Author Bio: Nicole Mae Patrick enjoys writing for Worshipguitarclass.com which offers Christian guitar lessons and guitar fingerpicking patterns as well as a host of additional services.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. – 3 John 2

You may have read this passage in John many times, but today, make an effort to really focus on what prospering means to you. Make it personal. Think about as you read these words, what prosperity, true prosperity, looks like or would like in your life. Get a mental picture of this and hold onto it. Don’t wait, do it right now. If you are truly prosperous, how to you act, who is around you, what do you have, where do you live, and most importantly why are you prosperous.

It’s Okay to Prosper

If you had a difficult time imagining prosperity in your life, you may need to renew your mind to what God has really said about prospering you. The best way to do this is to consider passages from the Bible. As Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Now, don’t let the scripture you are about to read just sink into your intellect, take hold of it and let it be absorbed into your heart. Then, as soon as you possibly can, act on the Word that you read.

Even though 3 John 2 clearly says it’s God’s will to prosper you, you may still be stuck on a familiar saying, which is “money is the root of all evil”. This is from the Bible but it is missing three critical words. Read the scripture directly from the Bible from 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Notice, that it says, the love of money. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, you can fall into the trap of loving it.

Quick Tip: Start thinking of money as a tool. If you use a tool in the right way, you can do amazing things. For example, if you use a hammer appropriately, you can build a house. However, there are many people who have used a hammer very inappropriate ways, even to commit murder.

God’s desire is for you to prosper. See, how the Psalmist states it in Psalm 35:27, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Think about that for a second, God gets pleasure when His servant prospers. You can make God happy by doing well. That is so awesome!

Prosperity Is More Than Money

When you envisioned what your life would look like if you were truly prosperous, did you see more than things money can buy? Did you see happiness and love? If you did, that is very good because prosperity includes every area of your life. You should experience prosperity in your relationships, in your emotional well-being, in your spiritual development, in your knowledge and wisdom, in your finances, and every other area of your life.

You have no doubt seen or know someone with lots of money who is miserable. If this is the case, then, you know that just having money is not really experiencing prosperity. In fact, with the exception of money, some of those people are experiencing lack in one or more of the other areas in their life. What good is money if you don’t have people around you who love you? What good is money if you are too sick to enjoy it? What good is money if it causes you so much stress that you have no joy in your life?

Use Your Prosperity to Bless Others

Instead of being a reservoir, which collects water, consider becoming a river, which channels water. When we are prospered, it is not only for us to enjoy the fruits, but it is also to share and help others.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.- 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

We are called to help those in need as Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” When you live in prosperity, which God wants you to do, then you will have the means necessary to help others. What a wonderful place that is to be.

Author Bio: WE BELIEVE…as children of God, we are overcomers and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us. Find out what the Word of God has for you.