ChuckBalsamo.com

Two Keys to (Daily) Peace & Happiness

Friday, March 30th, 2012 By chuck 4 Comments

Here is a comment from Steffanie (about yesterday’s blog)…

Chuck,

I was compelled to come “visit” your blog this a.m. I am in one of the MOST difficult seasons of my life. I know we have yet to meet (other than on Twitter and by association through my sister Kim E.) but you have been an encouragement and inspiration to my life and walk. (Imagine what your book might do for me!) This season of life is requiring a level of faithfulness, of which I failed many times, and endurance that is unparalleled.

You wrote: “Just when I feel like my most intense battles are behind me, I wander onto a battleground so fiery, it punches the life from my lungs.” This articulates clearly where I am – even though some of this battle I entered because of my own sinful choices and human frailty.

I could sit and write my own blog here (yes, I do actually have one) but I simply wanted to say “thank you”. Thank you for your authenticity, your compassion, your encouragement, and your unwavering faithfulness. Lord shine His face upon you… oh, wait… He does!

Here is my reply to Steffanie and my thoughts for each of you today…

Steffanie, You’re a natural writer! Wow, your words are moving. Even though you’re going through so much, you are still hanging on by a thread… and more than that, God is holding you up. He will never let you go.

Thank you for encouraging me. I wake up a few hours before the sun every morning, with TWO strong desires:

To love God with more and more of myself, because “He who is forgiven much, loves [God] MUCH”… and I have been forgiven much! It makes me truly and eternally grateful… oh how I love Him!
I want to make that once in a lifetime difference in someone else’s life. Whether it is on the social network, or on the phone or text, or it’s in person… or even through my prayers… I ask God to grant me this ONE wish (every day), to spend me up for the sake of helping others.

It’s sounds so honorable, but still, just like every other person, I’m only as good as the God who gives me these desires. When we say, to God be the glory… some people mean it more than others. I can’t say it enough, because I believe it to be true on the highest level. He is the LOVE that lights my heart and yours.

These are the two keys to (daily) peace and happiness! Don’t you agree?

Let’s do this more today than we did it yesterday! Let’s LOVE God and LOVE others (Matthew 22:37-40)… on a JESUS level. Let’s live like MOTHER TERESA and help the poor, the sick, and the unfortunate people in our world. There is always someone out there who has it worse than us. Let’s bring them light and hope today… and every day.

Your thoughts?

I must post this video again, because it’s changing my life this week.

To watch this video on the RSS feed, click this link.

I just prayed for all of you, called out many names and also prayed a blanket prayer over everyone in this tribe. I hope you feel the difference…

Dream Big,

Chuck

Note: Today’s image from Liz Hicks

Filed Under: Journal & Message

Do You Have A Prayer Closet?

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 By chuck 34 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve played a worship video with this degree of lift. But before I show it to you, let me tell you why it’s so special.

It’s 3:40am right now. For the second night in a row, I’ve been awake since about 1:30am. So tonight (this morning), I decided to get out of bed and go into my prayer closet.

This has been a very challenging week for me.

Just when I feel like my most intense battles are behind me, I wander onto a battleground so fiery, it punches the life from my lungs.

My greatest weapon (and yours) in such times, is our prayer closet.

In the prayer closet (that designated place where we meet with God), these are the prayers we say to HIM…

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You…

I hear the tumult of the raging seas as Your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. (Psalm 42:1-8 NLT)

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The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:1-5 NLT)

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Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. (Psalm 91:1-2 NLT)

All of these verses are true. God is the WATER we long for (and need). He is the One who gives us true REST. He gives us PEACE. He renews our STRENGTH. In the prayer closet, He eats a meal with us in the presence of our enemies. He is our SHELTER, our REFUGE, our place of SAFETY, and our God.

Here is the worship video I’m playing in my prayer closet this morning… as I find water, rest, peace, strength, shelter, refuge, and safety.

To watch this video on the RSS feed, click this link.

How beautiful this love, You would lay down Your crown
Surrender Your throne in heaven, so that I could be found
How awesome is this love that conquered the grave
Love that can move the mountains, yet knows me by name

It’s unbreakable, it’s undeniable
Nothing will ever, separate us

Your love is higher than the skies up above
Your love is wider than what I can dream of
Your love is deeper, it’s the greatest of all

Holy are You Father
A love like no other
So vast like the universe
Is Your love, is Your love

Beautiful song, beautiful moment with God… meditating on His Love for you and me. I’m praying for you while I’m awake, calling out the names of my friends and family here in my hometown, and throughout the world.

Does it seem like YOU are surrounded with challenges today? Don’t just stand there exposed to the onslaught of your enemies. Make a PRAYER CLOSET on your battlefield, meet with God… and watch what happens. He is a God of miracles to those who trust in Him!

With much love…

Dream Big,

Chuck Balsamo

Ps: Today’s image from Ricky Sorenson

Filed Under: Journal with Video

From The Video Archives: My 7 Step Best Week Plan!

Monday, March 26th, 2012 By chuck 3 Comments

Are you feeling a little off your game this year? Did you set a few worthwhile goals, and right about now you’re starting to think you were out of your mind for dreaming so big?

It’s only March and there is still time generate some real momentum. But, you have to act soon!

Would you like to take charge of your life and get back on task this week?

Here Is My Seven Step Best Week Plan

Empower yourself during the first hour.
Meditate on one Bible verse all day long.
Resists the dissempowering energies of bad people.
Have a happy, positive, energizing conversation with one powerful peer every day.
Increase your energy and multiply your happy endorphins.
Become a master of balance: allocate time for each of your 9 life equities.
Power yourself down each night with a prayer.

What would happen if you followed this plan every week between now and December 31st? Could you have the happiest, most fruitful, successful year of your life? The answer is YES.

Watch this short teaching video: My Seven Step Best Week Plan