It was on the day of Pentecost at around 9am that the Holy Spirit came in like a rushing wind. The disciples were told by Jesus to wait until they were clothed with power from on high and now the Holy Spirit was empowering them. 

Take some time today to remember that we have been given the Holy Spirit to empower us and guide us in our every day lives. 

Lately I have been working out with a different mindset. I am not working out to improve, to get leaner, to build muscle, or to get in shape. I have purely focused on how good it feels to exercise and move. It feels good to get your body more mobile, stretch, run, jump, work, and be strong.

The funny thing is that my workouts are actually progressing faster with this mindset than with the mindset of trying to make progress. And working out is something to look forward to each day. 

As an example, I have a 5 minute run I have done several times over the last 2 months and I have been tracking how far I run in those 5 minutes. Yesterday, I did the same run and just focused on enjoying running. I ended up easily setting a new best and it was fun in the process. 

All new thoughts start small like a seed, but the more we think about them and meditate on them the bigger and stronger they grow. Eventually those thoughts become our automatic way of thinking. This is true of both good thoughts and bad thoughts. 

We all have patterns of thought or said another way a habitual thought pattern. This pattern is created based on what we focus on the most. The more we focus on something the stronger it grows. 

Changing our thought patterns can take some work because to remove an old pattern requires us to stop focusing on the old thought and to replace it with a new thought. But, this new thought starts as a seed, and it needs time to grow and strengthen to the point where it becomes our automatic way of thinking. We know it has truly become automatic when pressure arises in life and we keep our focus. 

Quick Summary

To change our thought patterns we must change what we are focused on, and then continuing strengthening this new focus...

We are getting close to Pentecost ( May 29th), which is the bridge to the 2nd half of the year. 

Music creates a bridge as it brings people together, like a universal language. 

Music is also like a bridge in that if you are ever trying to figure out how to connect 2 ideas listening to music can help bridge the gap. There is something powerful about music that can help you figure out issues you have been trying to solve. 

Music gets you into rhythm and flow. In the Old Testament prophets often used music to hear from God. 

I think one of the best ways to hear from God is by combining music with prayer. 

In my book Cracking Heaven's Code music is the very center of all the codes, which means it boosts energy, improves your bodies rhythms, and get you into a better mental flow. 

If you are ever low on energy, in a bad emotional state, or struggling trying to figure out the next steps, try combining prayer and music together. 

We are getting close to the day of Pentecost ( May 29th) and a big theme for this time of year is balance. 

I once read a story of a billionaire who said that he felt physical exercise helped him make better decisions in his business. 

He said that he felt the spirit, mind, and body must all stay in balance when it comes to exercise. If he felt stuck mentally he would exercise his physical body and bring his body back into balance. 

For many people their work is mostly mental these days.  If this is the case then getting regular workouts and adding small amounts of exercise throughout your work day can make a big difference by balancing out your body. 

For example, you can stop every so often and stretch or do a few pushups. The other thing I have found helpful is to do some physical work on off days. 

We are getting close to Pentecost ( May 29th). Pentecost is the midpoint of the year on God's calendar. It's the bridge to the other side. There are 3 feasts in the Spring and 3 feasts in the Fall, with Pentecost in the middle connecting the 2 sides. 

In the Old Testament God's laws and the 10 commandments were given on Pentecost and in the New Testament the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost. In both instances a guide for life was given. When the Law was given 3,000 people died that day but when the Holy Spirit came 3,000 people were saved that day. The letter of the law kills but the Spirit gives life. 

We have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. He creates a bridge helping us connect with God and partner with him in life. The Holy Spirit allows us to synchronize our lives with God. 

But, for any partnership to work trust is required. Trust also creates a bridge allowing people to work together. A big theme for this season is trust. 

Another...

Years ago while teaching kindergarten Sunday school there would always be one kid who was very disruptive. But there would also be a few kids that would stay focused no matter what was going on. The battle was to keep the kids in the middle focused, because they would usually get distracted by the one kid who was disruptive. 

We are a 3 part being spirit, soul(mind and emotions), and physical body. The battle is for the middle - the mind and emotions. 

Pentecost ( May 29th) is coming up and is the middle of the year on God's calendar.  Here is how to win the middle...

When negative thoughts and images pop up in your mind develop the habit of switching your focus back onto whatever is true, noble, lovely, pure, of good report, and praise worthy. Meditate on these things. 

Once my daughter was playing the piano using an app that lights up green when the correct note is played at the correct time. I noticed she was often playing the correct note but either too early or too late and she wouldn't get any credit.

Imagine listening to one of your favorite songs and the timing of the beat was off. It wouldn't sound right. 

There is a saying that God is never late, but I have also learned that he is never early. He is always right on time. Your life is like a beautiful song and if he played the right note at the wrong time it wouldn't sound right. 

His timing is perfect, but it takes trust to stay in his timing, because he is never early. We are getting close to the day of Pentecost ( May 29th), which is a reminder that God's timing is always perfect. 

Imagine putting hot glass in the freezer. It would break. 

It is important to take transitions slowly. Moving quickly from one extreme to another can cause issues. Most people have been stuck at home for awhile and restrictions are beginning to ease, remember to transition slowly.

We are also getting close to the day of Pentecost on May 29th. Pentecost is the middle of the year on God's calendar, marking the transition to the second half of the year. In the Abundant Life Blueprint we focus on offense in the first half of the year and defense in the second half. 

On the Abundant Life Blueprint there are three areas where we play offense and 3 areas where we play defense.

Purpose, health, and family are offense

Order, time, and community are defense. 

We must play defense to maintain order, protect our time, and community. 

The other big area to play defense in is our mindsets and emotions. Fight off anything that tries to steal your peace and joy. 

To join...

We are on week number 6 of our 7 week sprint to the day of Pentecost. 

Week 6 is often a time of pressure, which is a signal to slow down and simplify. 

Years ago I travelled all over the United States studying with the best health and fitness experts. But in the process I became really confused. There were so many opinions on what to eat and how to exercise. 

Things began to get simpler when I understood that life is full of paradoxes and what look like opposites are just two ends of one spectrum. We must learn to simplify by taking two opposing things and making them into one. For example, high rep and low rep weight lifting are just opposite ends of the strength spectrum. An improvement in either side will automatically improve the strength in the other, and we need both for balance. 

The only way to learn these connections is by slowing down. God’s signal for slowing down is pressure. 

Sometimes in life there will be pressures, adversities, and...