Solving The Puzzle

My wife and I have started playing a game called Kami 2 on our mobile devices. It’s a puzzle game where the player has a predetermined number of moves to change colored segments into one, unified color. It is addicting and if you really get into it, you will become frustrated. But if you keep at it and solve the puzzle, you will be satisfied...until you start the next level and become challenged all over again!

My wife introduced the game to her friend, who fell in love with it, even though she continually cursed it out!  She would play all night.  One morning, after staying the night at our house, she woke up tired. I asked her if she was ok. She stated, “Your wife has ruined my life!” I ask, “Why? What’s wrong?” She stated, “I stayed up until 1AM playing that darn game!  I got stuck on this level.” She wanted to feel the satisfaction of advancing to the next level of the game.  

We all want to do that! Whether it is a video game or real life: It may be a challenge you are facing on your job, a bully in school, a relationship issue, an emotional struggle, a financial trial, or a physical test with your health. Whatever you are dealing with, try the following:

1. Give yourself a head start - read all you can about what you are attempting to accomplish.
2. Focus on your task. Don’t allow your surroundings to distract you.
3. Don’t stop trying. Keep plugging away. Your experience is what will prepare you for the next level.
4. Connect with someone who can help you.  Community is so helpful when you are burdened. People can comfort and encourage you. They can also offer you helpful tips that you may not have thought of previously.

Many times, in real life, we keep ourselves up at night; we get frustrated; we fuss and cuss because we have spent SO much time on this level, when we know we should be at the next level by now.  

Try the tips above and see if they help you become successful this week in whatever you are facing.

Share your positive story with us below. The more we share, the more we help each other!

Next Level

I remember when I worked an Information Technology (IT) job. It was outside of the larger organization’s IT department. You see, the organization was a PC based campus. I was brought in to help change the culture and implement Mac usability, for the creative side of things, in a smaller academic department.  

As I attempted to implement culture change, I was convinced that two of the higher up IT managers hated my guts! I didn’t know why. Maybe it was because of the PC/Mac difference. Maybe it was because I was the only minority in the entire building. Maybe it was because I was brought in to change things, and you know that people hate change. One of the guys would write bullying emails to me and talk about me to other people in the organization.  The other would set me up for failure.  When I needed to direction, I would ask for his assistance. Because I was new, he would give me bad information, then go to my boss’s boss to put me down.  I know this because my bosses boss talked to me to tell me what was going on behind my back. She wanted to get my perspective and to let me know that she was on my side. I guess I was an interruption in those guys plans.

One day, I got fed up and wrote a long email, telling them about themselves. I let my wife read it. She said, “Do you really want to send this? What will it accomplish?”  I didn’t send the email. Being in that situation taught me patience. I learned how to deal with all people, no matter how they treated me or what others may think of me. God knew that I needed that lesson before I would become a pastor.  I know that my faith was being tested. It would have been easy to quit; to go back to my old job; to say, I’ve had enough of this stuff! But I know that God was up to something great and He was molding and shaping me for my Next Level experience. Now, when I encounter challenging people, or my patience is tested, I can look at those situations differently and say, “Thank you Lord” and smile because I know He is up to something great in me. He is taking me to my Next Level.

What trials, tests or challenges are you facing this week? Try to look at them differently by:

1. Seeing the positive in each situation

2. Changing your perception of the people involved and

3. Keeping an open mind

Press through your challenges this week.  You will build strength, patience, character.  You will persevere!

Tell us about a lesson you learned through being challenged in the comments below.

This weekend, I am starting a new series at the Vineyard Church - Syracuse titled Next Level. I hope you can join us in person or online at vineyardny.org.

Rewrite Your Story

I remember my first year of college. I was an electrical engineering major at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. Go Golden Bears! Like most college freshmen, I invested much of my time studying...how to be free and have fun!  

My mom visited the campus for the closing exercise of a program I was in. The Dean of the school was at the awards ceremony, where I won the ‘Funniest Student’ award. I had so much fun during those days. After the ceremony, I listened in as my mom had a conversation with the Dean. She asked him, “Are there any scholarships available that Gary can apply for because we really can’t afford this.” I distinctly remember the Dean’s response, “Sorry, but he is not engineering material!”

Brokenhearted, I carried that statement with me for three years.  My determination, my motivation, my focus and my goal over those three years was to prove that clown wrong! I couldn’t believe someone would say such a thing about me.

I allowed that man’s negative statement to rule my life for three years. During my junior year, it dawned on me, I don’t even like electrical engineering! Why did I waste three years of my life?  I allowed someone else to write my life’s story for that time. I was emotionally battered and my grades suffered. With my senior year approaching, I made a drastic decision. I would change my major.  

I found something that I was really interested in; something that really drove me. I still use those skills today.  In fact, I’m using them right now as I write this entry.

I made a decision to write my own story. I remember at that moment allowing myself to be inspired by God to pursue what would offer Him glory and bring me happiness.

Wherever you are in life; whatever you are up against; whoever is against you; whatever you are going through; and wherever you are in your walk with Jesus, take a quiet moment right now and meditate on this: God, what is it that I can do right now to change the course of my life so you will be honored and I can be happy? Inspire me Jesus.

Whatever you were inspired to do, DO IT! Don’t wait. Fulfill your destiny!

Do not allow other’s negativity to write your life story for you.  Do not allow yourself to be trapped in some other authors narrative. With Jesus’ inspiration, start rewriting your life story today. And make it AMAZING!

I would love to read the story of your great turnaround. Share it below so that we all can be inspired.