Geoffrey's G.E.M.S

Featured

Geoffrey’s G.E.M.S #5: Creating Contentment in Your Life

Fourth of July weekend 2020. It’s Geoff here again on Sunday, July 5th.

Can you imagine living in total contentment, especially in the day and age we are living in today? Last week, I was watching an old ESPN clip. Remember Jimmy Valvano and his 1993 ESPY Award-winning speech? Even to this day, it’s one of the most watched motivational speeches in history.

What did he say?

Whatever you do, do the very best that you can. Never, never give up. Well, if you’re facing cancer or you’re facing the difficulties that we have right now, such as economic problems, people losing jobs, fear, those things. How can you possibly live in contentment? Well, Jimmy gave such incredible advice to us all. But you know what? I go back to the to the Bible where Paul said “cultivate a spirit of contentment.” There are some things that we all got to do.

#1: Never ever allow yourself to complain about anything. Not even the weather. Three hours ago, it was pouring rain. You couldn’t even see in front of you, and it’s now clear as day. Have an expectation that things will always get better.

#2: Don’t imagine yourself to be anywhere other than where you are. Just think about it. God planted you to be where you are right now—nowhere else. It’s his perfect place for you. Know and live in expectation of something good happening because he’s providing for you.

#3: Don’t ever, ever compare yourself to someone else’s situation. You know, there’s an old story about Jesus sharing his perspective on bearing a cross and one of his disciples came up to him one day. He said, “Jesus, I can’t carry the cross that I’m bearing right now. It’s just too much for me.” Then Jesus showed him this whole field. He says to the disciple, “Have your pick.” And the disciple went to go grab it. He said, “This is my cross.” The good Lord responded, “This is what I had for you all along.” So, try not to compare your situation to someone else’s. Live in the moment that God has given you.

#4: God loves you more than you could ever love yourself, and he has your best at heart—never doubt that. Otherwise, you’re going to live in regret, and that’s a tool of the evil one. We don’t want to ever live in regret. Live in your moment, as I said before. Have the discipline to live in that moment, and not get stuck in yesterday.

#5: Never dwell on tomorrow, because then that’s fear! “God’s not going to take care of me now. I’m going to live in fear! I’m going to dread tomorrow.” No, tomorrow will take care of itself. It’s in God’s hands. He is all-sufficient all the time, and he will provide for you. He’s got a name: Jehovah Jireh. He’s got another cooler name: El Shaddai. He’s the guy who shows up and is fully sufficient.

So, when you think about living this last half of the year, try to focus on the discipline to build a life and culture of contentment in your mind that will be infectious to all. Have a great day.

Patience and Perspective: Geoffrey’s G.E.M.S #4

Hi, it’s Geoffrey here again, and it’s my birthday today. And as I was contemplating what spiritually was driving my life these days, I could not help but think of the word patience. Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit, but it is really grounded in the toil and tribulation of everyday life where we learn patience. This very day, on my birthday, I came to the conclusion that my perspective drives my patience. You know, the longer we are around this Earth, you either get more frustrated and disappointed because the things of the world don’t happen as you would like them to, or you realize God has my good in his plan all along, and whatever tough things I go through—whatever struggles and toils I go through—is really for my good because patience is really born over many, many years of handling and succeeding the persevering through those trials and tribulations. So, as you embark on your days and weeks ahead, think about this.

Patience is a great virtue. It’s something God has ordained for your life. It will end up the struggle will be all worth it, because you will be a resource, a friend, a good word, and great insight for those around you when it’s needed—you were there too, once, right? Have a great day.

Continuous and Sustainable: Geoffrey’s G.E.M.S #3

Geoff here again on another beautiful Sunday afternoon by the water’s edge. Twelve, thirteen miles per hour winds. I was looking at waters, the breakers, and the continual stream. You see it right behind me, and I cannot help but think continuous and sustainable. If you keep a continuous and sustainable pressure on yourself, one that is not overwhelming, as the waters and the seas weather down and down any road, including the sea shore, and push it back, so you can make progress over a long period of time. Just like the ocean waters break on the seashore and continually erode the beach, you can erode any obstacle that’s in your way. Never give up. Your heart beating just like I’ve been running here for the last 20 minutes. It reminded me that my heart beats continuously. It sustains my life. Think about the same this week. Continuous and sustainable . . . you will achieve your goal. You will make breakthroughs. God bless you.

Sharpening Iron: A Mother’s Day Message

Good afternoon, and happy Mother’s Day. I can’t help but think of this Mother’s Day being such a wonderful day here in Central Florida. When I was about to think what I was going to say today to inspire my audience, I couldn’t help but go back to Tim Tebow’s Iron Man sermon, which he was asked to give by coach John Fox of the Denver Broncos prior to their overtime win against the San Diego Chargers back in November of 2011.

But you think about that talk and what it meant. Tebow inspired his teammates to lead by example—of a fearless example. When you think about “iron sharpening iron, so one man sharpens another,” you think about exactly what that picture is. Its a picture of sparks flying, friction from the iron. We are called as human beings, by God, to sharpen each other and in a marriage relationship like I have with my wife, we have a fearless thought about how we engage with each other. Sometimes sparks fly, but we’re made better people as a result of our fearlessness in engaging each other to make each other better. So, we should do the same in the workplace. It’ll make us better colleagues, better advisors, and better people.

So in the end, going forward past this COVID-19 crisis, think about that call to sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another, and we all become better for it.

Have a great day.

Fearless Living in a Fearful, Pandemic World

Here we are on a Sunday afternoon. I can’t help but think it’s almost the beginning of a new year. It’s like my New Year’s resolution, starting in May. Well, everybody’s got to get back to work, beginning tomorrow, Monday, May 4th. And a number of us are going to have fears that are welling up inside of us about reengaging into the workplace. And I’m here to say we were never given a spirit fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. And those three things give us authority over anything. So when you think about going back to work and addressing your fears, one-identify what it is. Be very, very specific. Then, number two, Address the situation. Repent of it, so to speak. When you think about that word in the Latin: repent, it means go back, open new thoughts. Right. So be open to thoughts, but you’ve got it now, number three, you’ve got to overcome that fear. While that is looking back, saying, OK, I have the courage to address it, now I’m going to to focus on specifically how am I going to overcome it. Because if I keep doing the same thing over and over again, if I allow those thoughts which were negative, where they were fear based to continue, I’m just going to do the exact same thing over and over again. Once you overcome, you’ve got to, number four, continue to speak it out loud. Every day, every morning, begin your day with an affirmation. I will speak the truth. I am not given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, like I’m reaching out and of a sound, disciplined mind. I am in order and disciplined. You’ve got a basic feeling of order in my life. And I don’t have to detract from it. I will stay focused and I’ll succeed. Have a great day.