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TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook                                                                       Lesson 5: Part 2



 LESSON 5: PART 2
            time to do it. Have you ever heard the Jim               direction. What we are saying is that
 FINISH BEFORE YOU START  Carrey story of how he wrote a 10-million   everyone has the potential to achieve
                                                                     positive transformation in his or her life.
            dollar check to himself before he ever starred
            in a movie? He did it in 1987 and dated the             And every one of you has greatness on the
            check for “Thanksgiving 1995.” Is was in                 inside. Can you see it? Maybe you’re not
            1994 that he received his salary for the film            meant to be a basketball player. Maybe you
 Visualization can be defined as, “the   forward thinking that we, as God’s people,   Dumb and Dumber in the sum of 10 million   are meant to be a soccer player. Can you
 practice of seeking to affect the outer   can internalize and, in turn, use to help us   dollars. The amount of money and his chosen   see it? Maybe you’re not meant to be the
 world by changing one’s inner thoughts   visualize transformation in whatever aspect   profession is not the focus of that story. It’s   owner of a multi-million dollar computer
 and expectations. It’s the basic technique   of our life we are desiring to change.  the fact that he wrote it down so every day   company. Maybe you are meant to be the
 underlying positive thinking which is   he had a visual representation of what he   owner of the best computer shop in town.
 frequently used to enhance performance.”  Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans   was reaching for. It reminded him. It helped   Can you see it? Maybe you’re not meant to
 I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for   him to stay motivated. It pushed him to   be the pastor of a mega-church? Maybe
 In other words, visualization is a   welfare and not for evil, to give you a future   work hard and not give up. You’re saying to   you are meant to head up a team of faithful
 powerful tool when it comes to creating   and a hope.” (ESV)  yourself, “But I’m not trying to achieve fame   volunteers that makes a huge impact for
 transformation in your life. The amount of   and fortune in 10 years – I just want to lose   God’s kingdom on a local level. Maybe you’re
 positive change that can take place is literally   Acts 18:9 says, “And the Lord said to Paul    10 pounds in 60 days.” Well, write it down!   not meant to be a famous celebrity. Maybe
 affected by the scope of your imagination.   one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but
 Whatever you can see in your mind, that is   go on speaking and do not be silent…” (ESV)  "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your
 basically realistic, you can achieve. If you’re   2 Chronicles 15:7 says, “But as for you, be   work will be rewarded." — 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV)
 a big thinker then you can reach big goals.   strong and do not give up, for your work
 If you’re a small thinker then your chances   will be rewarded.” (NIV)  Simply grab a piece of paper and write, “I   you are meant to be a carpenter; a teacher; a
 of staying in your current situation greatly   will lose 10 pounds in the next 60 days.” If   caregiver; a healthier person; a better parent,
 increase. Have you ever heard someone   You must finish before you start. Each of   you want to graduate with honors, maybe   a better friend; a better you! Can you see it?
 say, “Let your imagination run wild?" It’s an   these scriptures – and there are several   the key is printing out a picture of a diploma   You can never stop visualizing the positive
 idea we associate with children when they   more – encourage the reader to envision   and hanging it up in a place you’ll see it or   transformation that can happen in your life.
 play “make believe.” But at the very core of   the future result as a way of staying on task   putting it in your notebook or taping it to   You can never stop working for it.
 imagination is the principle of visualization   and pushing forward in the present. God   your laptop. You want to do better at your
 and successful people are very aware of   gave Noah very clear specifications for the   job or get a promotion? Maybe you find a   We’ve all heard of Thomas Alva Edison. If
 this. Seeing that thing you want over and   measurements of the ark, which made it   picture that represents where you’d like to   you don’t know who he is, all you have to
 over again; creating a detailed vision of it;   easier for him to imagine this extraordinary   end up in your career. The idea here is that   do is look around and you’ll see his work in
 allowing yourself to experience all the senses   vessel. Joseph saw himself as a top official   this picture or written note will represent the   every light bulb, headlight and street lamp.
 associated with that accomplishment – the   in Egypt, which made it easier for him   cover of the puzzle box we discussed in part   Today we take the light bulb for granted, but
 sight of it, the feel of it, the sound of it,   to endure the hardships of slavery and   1. As you’re working harder and believing,   it wasn’t always like that. The electric light
 the smell of it! It’s like a golfer visualizing   imprisonment. These people saw the finish   more pieces to the puzzle will begin to fall   bulb had been around for about 80 years
 the perfect stroke over and over again to   line before they ever started the race.  in to place. You continue adding pieces and   but it was a flawed and inefficient device
 mentally train muscle memory.                                       because it would burn out very quickly.
 Now it’s your turn! We’re going to take some   eventually the opportunity to become the   People would still use candles because light
 In Lesson 4 we discussed how we must   time to teach you a technique you can use to   image you’re creating in your mind could   bulbs just weren’t reliable. Then, in 1879 after
 surround ourselves with opportunities to   visualize the results you’re trying to obtain.  become reality!  thousands of failed experiments, Thomas
 intake positivity and subsequently use E   It’s this simple. Write it down! This isn’t the   Now you might be saying, “I’m only five-  Edison figured out a way to produce a light
 to the Seventh Power to internalize those   first time we’ve presented this idea to you.   foot-two, but I can play in the NBA if I   bulb that would last and eventually one
 thoughts, verbalize those thoughts and act   Did you ever write that note to yourself   just visualize it?” Not exactly. In fact,   that would glow for over 1500 hours. Why
 on them. As we turn to our Bible we can find   about the habit or circumstance in your life   unreasonable goals are a surefire way to   did it take almost 80 years before anyone
 numerous instances of positive images and
 you’re trying to change? If not, this is a great   tip the motivational scales in the wrong   discovered this improvement? What was



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