#openthoughts - Change

Change is necessary, change is needed but what do you do when you lack the ability to change?

Let's look at what the word change means -

To give a completely different form or appearance to; transform
To undergo transformation or transition:

There are plenty more versions but we like these two specifically. Reason being is that when there is a change, you will notice it. It will be visible for all to see.
When we say that we are going to change, there should normally be a visible transformation but let's address why sometimes it may not happen.

One of the reasons is down to your mindset. Yes, everyone thinks you can just embark on a journey and expect your mind and body to adjust to it straight away. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, you must first train your mind and let it adjust to the changes but sometimes you won't get a chance, you will have to adjust. How do you train your mind? You can speak to your mind, tell it good thoughts, repeat the changes that are set to come into effect and most importantly give yourself time.

There are instances where change takes place such as - Changing schools, moving houses, starting a new job, deciding to become more healthier.
In these instances it will be common that you won't like the change but once you become consistent and you become comfortable with it, the change won't actually affect you.
When you was at school and you moved into a new year, you were forced to change and adjust to the new year. Change is never meant to be easy but the process can be calm if we allow it to be.

Change doesn't change overnight, it takes place over a period of time. Don't get upset if you don't see a change straight away, keep doing what you are doing and you will soon start to see changes.
Once you have planted the seed or the idea, it takes a process or you can call it the watering stage or even the hibernation period. During that time, is when the change starts to take place and only when it's finished is when you will see a visible change.

Some destinies are short, some dreams are dismissed because of the inability to wait for change. To see change, you need patience, you need to give it time. Because you can't see a visible change, this doesn't mean that change is taking place.
Change will always start from within before it effects the outer appearance.

Do you have the ability to change? Are you prepared to allow the change to take place?

I pray you are blessed by this and may you see the change that you desire in your life

Stand Strong

Standing Strong

Your response to adversity will show how strong your faith is
People's lives were turned upside down, destinies were cut short, people lives cut short, a nation shook to its very core. As the morning went by,pondering on this, it's not time for us to run away from terror, it's time for us to stand firm in the midst of terror. The enemy wants you to run, to be scared, to be shaken but it's time to refuse his tactics and show him how strong you are.
Peter couldn't see Jesus but he still climbed out of the boat. Run to Jesus, the enemy will wants to stop you but stay strong and run to him.

After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with leading in the children of Egypt into the promise land. Some time before, spies were sent out in order to see what they would need to do to enter the promise land. The rest came back and said there was no way that they could defeat the Giants standing in their way but Joshua and caleb came back and reported that they had every belief that those Giants could be defeated. What sets you apart from others is your faith and belief in God.
So from the perspective of Gods view, do you believe that all things are possible? Are you seeing the same thing as God is seeing. Whenever God sends someone out on a mission, he never leaves you unprepared and lacking support. Knowing this, it is not possible for us to be afraid or even be shaken for it says in Joshua 1 to be strong and of Good courage, for he will never leave us nor forsake us.
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
http://bible.com/1/jos.1.9.kjv

Keeping your eyes on Jesus will ensure you are focuses on him and him alone. Times will come when things happen to shake your faith and to blind your vision but we have to stay steadfast and strong and focused on Him in order to reach our full potential.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
http://bible.com/1/col.3.2-3.kjv
This passage lets me know that because I am hidden in Christ, I must set my mind on heavenly things. Are you doing the same? When you see news of terror, how do you respond?
Being hidden means that no one can find you
Take on the mind of Christ, be steadfast, refuse to be shaken. Stand strong and be strong

Through things that have happened, I have learnt how to be strong for me and for my others. If I had of exposed my weakness to others, depending on who they are it could have been very deadly. In the end, I went to God and gave my burden.
When you are strong, stead fast and solid, nothing can move or break you. Times of testing will come along but you will not be moved by it.

Be Strong, Stand Strong, Live Strong, Stay Strong

My Fitness Journey

Hey guys it's been a while since I last updated you on my progress. So a few weeks ago, I decided to get myself a health trainer (it's a free service lol) so I can meet someone and discuss my goals with. At first I thought it wouldn't be beneficial but it turns out that it has become very beneficial.

My church (Salem International Christian Centre) is pretty central to my life and I have a few fellow Salemites, who are also interested in health and wellbeing so we decided to set up Salem Health and Fitness. It's pretty surreal but our main aim is to educate people how they can live healthy and well whilst pursuing your destiny.

Losing weight doesn't happen overnight, I have discovered this since I decided to improve my wellbeing, I had to change my mindset and also change my eating habits. I'm not gonna tell you that it's an easy fix but with hard work and dedicated, you can do it.

In one of my meetings with my health trainer she said this - 'Your body is a temple and your soul lives inside that temple'  Wow, very thought provoking, it then took me to a few scriptures

“Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/hab.2.2.nlt


“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬
http://bible.com/116/1co.6.19-20.nlt


“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:23-25‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/1co.10.23-25.kjv

I soon realised that if I am going to be more healthier, I need to write it down and be able to visualise it, that way I will not be tempted to go off road. Temptations are real but when you have a goal in mind and you are focused, it will get easier.
It is very easy to go off road but it's even harder to get back on the road.

You may want to be more healthier, or you may even want to lose weight. Why don't we travel on the same road together. If you do have that passion, contact me or message me and we can take it from there.

Hope you are all blessed and I hope to see y'all very soon p.s. Would love to see you at my church also. Come and join us at Upton Park every Sunday from 9.30 onwards.

Ciao

Out of Control / Spiralling - Only You can Stop It

Ever been told you were out of control or just spiralling. Lets go back to the local playground and try to picture yourself on that roundabout which went really fast................................
Now how would you feel? When I went on there one time with a few friends, one pushed it real fast and it was quite an experience, to have someone control how fast you go or how slow you go. I'm not sure if I want to go through that again

That was me with my eating habits, there was a time when I thought that everything was good and that I could eat anything but some family and friends had to tell me straight - 'Ryan, watch what you eat'

It was quite different to hear that but I soon realised the damage it could cause and then I came across the following scripture - Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Soon or later, I discovered for myself that not all foods are beneficial for me. When I started my road to surgery, I was told that after surgery, the food I eat now will have to be cut off completely, whilst I didn't take it in I eventually realised it wouldn't do me any good. Even as I was preparing for surgery I had to make drastic changes in what I ate, the portion sizes and how regular I ate. 

So, what helped me change what I ate - I would have to say having a diary and a schedule and also getting help from my church family and direction from God, this combination helped me a lot. I was also told to listen to my body as it would signify what it likes and what it doesn't like

Only I could stop myself from spiralling out of control so I took back control and started to change my lifestyle. A few months on and I can truly say that it's the best decision I have ever made. I'm not totally there yet but I made a change and it is starting to pay off. 

If you find yourself on a roundabout, jump off and get back up and start to take control and it shall be well with you

“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them,
For they shall eat the fruit of their doings. - Isaiah 3:10

Be Blessed

Key to Your Heart

Over time it is understandable that you may want to build a wall around you with the fear that someone will come in and ruin you and leave you broken hearted once again.
I'm sure that you can relate to this, I was once in that position. I isolated myself, started to stay at home more and not socialise with most of my friends. I built a wall so I was sure that no one could hurt me again, it felt good at the time but I realised that there were people out there who really did genuinely love me and wanted to help me and spend time with me.

It took a long time for me to be able to put my trust in people again, I had to build a foundation with people and ensure that their hearts were in the right place. One of the biggest things I had to do was to open up to people and tell them what I was going through, it was hard at first but step by step I began to open up to people.

Months later and now I've changed my mindset towards people and my behaviour towards them. It's still a struggle but with God's grace I will break that mode and be free to talk to others.............
A huge test was when I had surgery in September and during recovery mode I had this concept that not many people would take interest in what had happened but that concept totally went out the window as some of my church family came to see me and that was such an encouragement to me. Since then I have become more open and it has benefited me in more ways than one.

What I would say is that there are people who will have a genuine passion to help you and look after you. Those people might just have the key to your heart. Let them in, let them comfort and help you. Let them help you become free


“Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭AMP‬‬
http://bible.com/8/gal.6.2.amp

I would love to hear your stories and hopefully encourage some of you to achieve freedom.

You can do it if your change your mindset. One Love