10 Things You Need To Know About Yourself

1. You cannot control everything that happens to you- you can only control the way you respond to what happens.  In your response is your power.
2. You can't get caught up in what could’ve been or should’ve been.  You must look at what is possible right now.
3. You have to accept whatever comes your way, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.
4. Making mistakes is always better than faking perfections.
5. You will never be as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you will never be as bad as you think when you lose.
6. You need to think less about managing your problems and more about managing your mindset. 
7. A challenge only becomes an obstacle if you bow to it.
8. Get back up.  Again, and again.  The faster you recover from setbacks, the faster you'll get where you're going in life.
9. You cannot hide from your fears, because you know they are not there to scare you.  They are there to let you know that something is worth fighting for.
10. There is a big difference between empty fatigue and gratifying exhaustion.  Life is too short.  You must invest in activities that truly move you.

Life Is Strange

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:10 

Isn’t it strange how life works?  

You want something and you work for it and wait for it and work for it and wait for it, and you feel like it’s taking forever to arrive.  Then it happens and it’s over and all you want to do is curl back up in that moment before things changed.

So, how can you avoid these feelings of loss and confusion? By being more present every step of the way.

Pursue your goals and dreams while at the same time enjoying the journey of getting there.  Embrace the steps you’re taking, even when you feel like you’ve lost your footing.  Sometimes the road gets bumpy so every step doesn’t have to be comfortable or perfectly placed.

By letting go of what should happen or what could happen every step of the way, you free up your life to various little surprises and joys.  You may not lead the exact life you want, but you will lead a meaningful, miraculous existence, guaranteed.  

Life is sometimes difficult, but it’s not a chore.  Make it an adventure.  Make it fun.  Make the choice to feel good about yourself, about your world, about your possibilities and the step you’re taking right now.

Troubled

"I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long."             Psalms 38:6 

Never apologize for being sensitive or emotional when life knocks you down hard.  There’s no reason to be ashamed for feeling something or for expressing pain if it’s real to you.  It’s a sign that you have a big heart, and that you aren’t afraid to be honest about it.  

Showing your emotions is a sign of human strength.  The people who judge you for being human, and not being modest, emotionless, and “in line,” are the ones who need to apologize.

By trying to hide your pain, and not wanting to feel bad, you make your bad feelings worse.  But by allowing yourself to feel bad, and realizing we all feel bad sometimes, you give yourself space to deal with the truth.  So give yourself this space, and embrace it.  

Too many people want to feel happy all the time, and positive every single second, but that’s not reality.  We all feel bad sometimes, and that’s OK.  When you accept this, and embrase the growing pains of living, you rise above the pain.  It happens, then it fades, and you’re stronger than you were before.

Us

Quite often the problems we have with others doesn't really have much to do with them at all.  Because many of the problems we think we have with them we subconsciously created in our own mind.  Maybe they did something in the past that touched on one of our fears or insecurities or maybe they didn’t do something that we expected them to do.  In either case, problems like these are not about the other person, they’re about us.

And that’s all right It simply means these little predicaments will be easier to solve.   We are, after all, in charge of our own decisions.  We get to decide whether we want to keep our head cluttered with events from the past, or instead open our minds to the positive realities unfolding in front of us.

All we need is the willingness to look at things a little differently – letting go of ‘what was’ and ‘what should have been,’ and instead focusing our energy on ‘what is’ and ‘what could be possible.’

Decisions driven by heavy emotion are typically misguided reactions rather than educated judgments.  These reactions are the byproduct of minimal amounts of conscious thought and primarily based on momentary ‘feelings’ instead of mindful awareness.

The best advice here is simple:  Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence.  Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions. Don't let yourself stand in the way of "us".

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20 

Friendship

Proverbs 17:17  "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." 

There are countless intricacies to every great friendship, but the foundation is always incredibly simple: making time for each other.  The key is to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you.  

-Don’t walk away when the going gets a little tough.

-Don'tbe distracted too easily.

-Don't be too busy or tired.

-Don't take them for granted.  

Friends are part of the glue that holds life and happiness together.  So put down the smart phone, close the laptop and enjoy each other’s company, face to face, the old fashioned way.

There are few joys that equal a good conversation, a genuine laugh, a long walk, or a big hug shared by two people who care about each other.  Sometimes the most ordinary things can be made extraordinary simply by doing them with the right people.  Choose to be around these people and choose to make the most of your time together.

No human being is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow. Healthy friendships always move in the direction of personal growth for the relationship as a whole and for each individual in it.  A desire to impede the growth of the other for one’s personal comfort is an expression of fear.

When you connect with a true friend, this person helps you find the best in yourself.  In this way, neither of you actually meet the best in each other. You both grow into your best selves by spending time together and nurturing each other’s growth.

Today

Today is the most important thing you have in your possession.

-Be humble on the mountaintop today.

 -Be strong in the valley today.

-Be faithful in between today.

-Be diligent today.

It takes courage to live life one day at a time. Sometimes courage isn't loud. Sometimes it’s simply a whisper at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow. In the space between “I’ll try again” and “I give up” there’s a lifetime.  It’s the difference between the path you walk and the one you leave behind. It's the gap between who you are capable of being and who you have become. It's the setting for the fables you’ll tell yourself in the future about what could have been if you had only not given up.

If you’re reading this thinking, “Things should be different right now,” take a deep breath.  That’s not true and you know it.  Because if it were true, things would be different right now.  Stay present and focus on what you can create today.  And tomorrow will reveal itself exactly as it should, just as yesterday already has. No matter what’s happening, you can efficiently fight the battles of today.  It’s only when you add the battles of yesterday and tomorrow, that life gets overwhelmingly complicated.  Realize that it’s not the experience of today by itself that devastates you, but the regret and resentment about something that happened yesterday or the fear and dread of what tomorrow might bring.  It’s necessary, therefore, to let yourself live just one day at a time – just today – just right here, right now.

What You Speak

Your ability to live a positive life hinges on your language.  It is your inner and outer verbal expression that makes your joy possible and that infuses your life with purpose, meaning and vitality.

I challenge you today to replace your negative thoughts and words with positive alternatives.  and use them as a theme by repeating it to yourself every time you feel negativity creeping up inside you.

-If the grass looks greener on the other side stop staring, comparing, complaining and start watering the grass you’re standing on.

-Sometimes you just have to look back at your past and smile about how far you’ve come.

-For everything you’ve lost, you’ve gained something else.  Appreciate what you have today.  Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.

-You cannot expect victory while planning for defeat.

-Sometimes you must break a little so you can get a peek inside to see what an awesome powerhouse you are. 

-Sometimes mistakes must be made so wisdom can be earned. 

-Sometimes you must overcome heartache so you can begin to follow your heart again.

-The true measure of your success is how many times you can bounce back from failure.

-Have faith that things will work out, maybe not how you planned, but just how it’s meant to be.

-In life, you usually get what you ask for, eventually, and it rarely comes in the package you think it’s supposed to come in.

-You can find trouble if you go looking for it. Do the best you can to find the peace you need.

Instead Of

-Instead of thanking Jesus for two strong legs and a body that’s capable of running and jumping lots of people complain about their weight and appearance.

-Instead of appreciating that they live in a country that protects their basic human rights and civil liberties, lots of people complain about laws, taxes and politicians.

-Instead of being grateful for the roof they have over their heads, lots of people wish they had a larger house and a fancier car.

-Instead of thanking God for great friends, lots of people grumble about what motives others have in being close to them.

-Instead of glorifying God for His blessings, lots of people ignore giving Him praise for taking care of them.

Don’t be one of these people.  You may not have it all, but you have a lot.

To witness miracles in your daily life, count your blessings and be thankful for what you do have.  There are others who aren’t so fortunate.

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14 

One of life’s greatest gifts is the fact that it is often difficult.  Because in dealing with life’s difficulties, we build immeasurable strength.  That strength enables us to successfully fulfill our deepest, most meaningful purposes. 

 

-It is precisely because life is difficult that you are able to make it great. 

 

-It is because life is difficult that you are able to rise above the difficulties. 

 

-You are able to make a difference and leave your mark on the world.

 

Recognize that you cannot control everything that happens to you. You can only control the way you respond to what happens.  In your response is your power. Accept whatever comes your way and meet it with the best you have to give. Don't hide from your fears, because you know they are not there to scare you.  They are there to let you know that something is worth fighting for. All the small victories are worth celebrating, every step of the way.  It’s the small things done well that make a big, exciting life in the end.

 

Tell yourself that the world is wrong about you.  Speak exactly what you need to hear, every single day, to move your life forward.  It may sound like a cliché to some people, but it’s not; it’s powerful stuff. You are your own worst enemy and the only one that can defeat you is your yourself. Believe that God can work through you to see His destiny for you fulfilled.

A Father

-A father is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. 

-A father never feels worthy of thonor in his child’s eyes. 

-A father is never quite the hero his daughter thinks, never quite the man his son believes him to be, and this worries him. So he works hard to try and smooth the rough places in the road for those of his own who will follow him.

-Fathers give daughters away to other men who aren’t nearly good enough, so they can have grandchildren who are smarter than anybody’s. 

-Fathers make bets with insurance companies about who’ll live the longest. One day they lose and the bet’s paid off to the part of them they leave behind.

-Fathers often go unappreciated, their advise unheeded, but are never forgotten when they're gone.

While you still have the chance tell your father you love him today.

 -Paul Harvey-

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Let Us Praise

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father. 

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children. 

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing. 

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart. 

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. 

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides. 

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children. 

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us. 

Dad's Time

Today's image of fatherhood is confusing. 

If you are too tough on your children, you're uncaring, out of touch, mean, and although you had good intentions, will most likely be remembered as a tyrant. If you're too easy, you're a bumbling fool who should never have had children. Somewhere in the middle is a macho man with the ability to cry at the end of a "chick flick." 

Television shows about family today usually make the father out to be a idiot who only cares about relaxing with his buddies while watching sports. He is detached from the wants and needs of his children and solves everything with... "Ask your mother." So in the eyes of the world the words "You're just like your father" today are often more of an insult than praise. 

Fathers have one chance to get things right with their kids. But often times we squander the opportunities...

-Because we are too busy to gain our children's respect.

-Because we grew up in a world that told us that real men don't cry so we weep in private. Our children never see us show our true feelings.

-The world calls us  the "bread winners" so we work more than we play with our kids.

-The world told us that we had to be strong and set examples even when life was tough and we froze out the ones that really cared about us.

-Then at the other end of life we wonder why our kids don't come around anymore. 

The truth? 

All our children really want is our time. They want the opportunity to tell us about when they were kids even though we've heard the story a hundred times. They want the chance to say the words, "Thanks, dad. and "I love you" before it's too late.

Generation after generation all say, "I'm going to raise my kids differently." 

So, how's that working out for you? 

A Father's Blessings

I found out just a few days ago that I was going to be a grandfather again. This will be baby # 5 and everything looks okay so far. I am excited at this very unsettled part of my life that we have a new grand on the way. So I just wanted to express my heart on this Father's Day weekend to the ones I love.

To my wife Becky, I would not have been a father without you. You have been my rock and my hiding place, along with being my comfort in the storm. You have made every parsonage, good or bad, a home. You have treated everyone with compassion and dignity even when they have mistreated you. God put you in my life and I would be nothing without you. You are a blessing to me.

To my son Shane, you are the best son a father could have. You have become a great husband, a great father, a great businessman, and my best friend. No father could be prouder of the accomplishments that you have made in life. You are my miracle boy and I will never forget it.

To my Daughter-In-Law Candace, I give my love and appreciation for being a part of our family. You are a loving wife to my son, a great mom to the grands, and love them all unconditionally. Without you being in the picture our lives would be incomplete.

To my Granddaughters, Hannah and Gracie, your light gives me unspeakable joy. Both of you have become beautiful young ladies and my love for you will never be able to be explained. You are my heart and always will be.

To my Grandsons, Hayden and Gannon, you are my legacy. If the Lord tarries you will carry on the family name. But until then I get to enjoy watching you grow up and being a part of your lives. Disney, Transformers, Star Wars, and more will always be new and fresh through your eyes. I'm a kid again every time I am with you.

None of this would be possible without my dad. He's in heaven now and he's been there 27 years. I miss him everyday and so does my mom. It was his instruction, teaching, and lifestyle that influences me in life. My brothers and I gained great knowledge about God and life through his instruction. I was blessed to have a dad like Bishop Alton L. Stone, Sr.

I am a blessed father. I hope every father will stop and count his blessings too. Thank God for Fatherhood.

Fathers A 100 Years Ago

Fathers of 1915 didn't have it nearly as good as fathers of today; but they did have a few advantages:

• In 1915, fathers prayed their children would learn English.
  Today, fathers pray their children will speak English.
  
• In 1915, a father's horsepower meant his horses.
  Today, it's the size of his minivan.
  
• In 1915, if a father put a roof over his family's head, he was a success.
  Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that's just the vacation home.
  
• In 1915, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived.
  Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure to get it on video.
  
• In 1915, fathers passed on clothing to their sons.
  Today, kids wouldn't touch Dad's clothes if they were sliding naked down an icicle.
  
• In 1915, fathers could count on children to join the family business.
  Today, fathers pray their kids will soon come home from college long enough to teach them how to work the computer and a smart phone.
  
• In 1915, fathers pined for old country Romania, Italy, or Russia.
  Today, fathers pine for old country Hank Williams, Jr.
• In 1915, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, "Wake up, it's time for school."
  Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting: "Wake up, it's time for baseball practice."
  
• In 1915, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.
  Today, a father comes home to a note: "Jimmy's at baseball, Cindy's at gymnastics, I'm at adult-Ed, Pizza in fridge."
  
• In 1915, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream.
  Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons' ears and shout, "WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE.."
  
• In 1915, a father gave a pencil box for Christmas, and the kid was all smiles.
  Today, a father spends $800 at Toys 'R' Us, and the kid screams: "I wanted a PlayStation 4!"
  
• In 1915, if a father had breakfast in bed, it was eggs and bacon and ham and potatoes.
  Today, it's Special K, soy milk, dry toast and a lecture on cholesterol.
  
• In 1915, a Father's Day gift would be a hand tool.
  Today, he'll get a digital organizer or something else he can't operate.
  
• In 1915, fathers said, "A man's home is his castle."
  Today, they say, "Welcome to the money pit."
  
• In 1915, "a good day at the market" meant Father brought home feed for the horses.
  Today, "a good day at the market" means Dad got in early on an IPO.
  
• In 1915, a happy meal was when Father shared funny stories around the table.
  Today, a happy meal is what Dad buys at McDonald's.
  
• In 1915, a father was involved if he spanked the kid now and then.
  Today, a father's involved only if he coaches Dixie Youth and organizes Boy Scouts and car pools.
  
• In 1915, when fathers entered the room, children often rose to attention.
  Today, kids glance up and grunt, "Dad, you're invading my space."
  
• In 1915, fathers threatened their daughters suiters with shotguns if the girl came home late.
  Today, fathers break the ice by saying, "So-how long have you had that earring?"
  
• In 1915, fathers pined for the old school, which meant a one-room, red-brick building.
  Today, fathers pine for the old school, which means Michael Jordan and Joe Montana.
  
• In 1915, fathers were never truly appreciated.
  In 2015, fathers are never truly appreciated.

Things ain't changed much in a 100 years, but Dad, we wouldn't be anywhere without you!

A Dad

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. 

A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt. 

A dad is someone who holds you when you cry, scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed, and has faith in you even when you fail. 

A dad is a person who is loving and kind, and often he knows what you have on your mind who listens, suggests, and defends. 

A dad can be one of your very best friends! He's proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong, a dad can be patient and helpful and strong In all that you do, a dad's love plays a part. 

There's always a place for him deep in your heart. And each year that passes, you're even more glad, more grateful and proud just to call him your dad! Thank you, Dad for listening and caring, for giving and sharing, but, especially, for just being you!   

Dad, you're everything a dad should be and some. 

Happy Father's Day! 

And God Made Fathers

When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, "What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping.

And God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him childsize, who would children have to look up to?"

And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy. The angel shook her head sadly and said, "Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on ponytails or even remove splinters caused by sticks used as baseball bats."

And God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup a child's face."

And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders. The angel nearly had a heart attack. "Boy, this is the end of the week, all right," she clucked. "Do you realize you just made a father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his legs?"

And God smiled and said, "A mother needs a lap. A father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle or hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?"

And God smiled and said, "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross or scare off mice at the summer cabin or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."

God worked on, giving the father few words but a firm, authoritive voice and eyes that saw everything but remained calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an afterthought, He added tears. Then He turned to the angel and said, "Now, are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?"

The angel shutteth up . . . . 

A Reason And A Season

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons-those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (any way); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

Some of you are more than friends-you are family. And some of you are more than family-you are friends.

Thank you for being part of my life.

Unless you've invented a time machine

Unless you've invented a time machine what is past is past. Every decision, right or wrong, cannot not be redone. You may wish so, you may even pray so, but once it is made you have to learn to live with the consequences. Sometimes either way can be a good thing, but most of the time it causes regret and disappointment.

We've all been there when the horizon looked bright and that decision was going to make our lives brighter and better, but when we got there the sun was setting and never seemed to rise again. Then we begin to beat ourselves up wondering why we made such a stupid choice. That's when reality hits the road and we realize that unless we make something good out of it, that decision will haunt us the rest of our lives.

We start with the what if's:

-What if I had said, "Not interested."

-What if I had said, "NO!"

-What if I had listened to my heart instead of my head?

-What if I knew it was too good to be true?

Let me say this about the what if's. They will haunt you until the day you die. Because there are only two choices you can make and sometimes we make the wrong choice. But dear friend, it's not the end of the world. It may knock you off your feet for awhile and it may even cause you pain, but eventually you'll work through it and realize that even in making the wrong decision God was still with you. He never left you or forsook you, but was there as a constant friend waiting for your cry.

Remember:

-God can take what's wrong and make it right.

-As long as God's in control the sun is still going to rise.

-Tomorrow is in God's hand and He can change what's wrong today and make it right.

I know this sounds simplistic, but it's the truth. The wise man said in Ecc. 3:15, "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." So unless you can go back and change time yesterday is gone and you don't get a do over. However, because of grace you can get a makeover and change the wrong decisions into
something good. Thank God for His time machine called forgiveness and grace. Use it!

Gratitude WILL Define You

"Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name." (Psalms 18:49 KJV)

Gratitude will define you. The definition of who you are and how you live is marked by your gratitude. When you learn how to appreciate the little things in life you develop a super spirit of gratitude.

Often it's the simple things that we fail to appreciate. The use of our fingers or toes, our speech, even our thought patterns are things we ought to be grateful for. Some many times we take these things for granted and do not show gratitude to God for His blessings upon us. So when you are thankful for the small things, the insignificant things, and the things that we take for granted, bigger blessings unfold in your life and you can learn how to praise the Lord and give thanks for His touch everyday and everywhere.

The Psalmist said even among the heathen would he give thanks. The world needs to see someone who is thankful for blessings everyday. They need to hear the testimony of your gratitude toward the Maker of all things. Not only do you become an overcomer by the words of your testimony, you become a blessing to those that are unlearned and untaught in the scripture. Your gratitude makes a difference in the lives of people in every walk of life.

So remember your gratitude WILL define you. It will leave a mark on your history and on your world. So the next time you feel like singing praise to God do it-somebody's listening and watching. Your thankfulness to God just might turn the tide in their life.

Time For God

Relationships with others are important, but you need alone time, because when you’re in solitude you’re free from obligations and external pressures.  You’re free to be you without being fancy and putting on a show.  You’re able to hear your own thoughts and follow through with them, sincerely. You are able to hear the voice of God and know His plan for your life.

Discover a quiet place.  Stretch your boundaries and explore territories in the Spirit you've never seen..  Go so far away from what you know that you stop being afraid of the unfamiliar because in your quiet place you've found the presence of God.

-Cherish your time alone with God.

-Take long walks and drives by yourself and commune with your Creator.

-Watch sunsets and sunrises silently in peace waiting to hear from God.

-Teach yourself something new from His Word. Read it and sing songs of praise from it.

-Read His word.  Sing songs and praise His name.

"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." (Mark 13:33 KJV)

Resentment

Holding a resentful grudge is like drinking venom and waiting for the other person to grow ill.  It’s an exercise in futility.  And just as venom is to the human body, so is resentment to the human spirit. Even one tiny bit is bad for you.

Don’t increase life’s difficulties by filling your mind with resentment.  Instead, ease your burdens by choosing to let them go.  If you feel resentful feelings starting to take hold, stop and consider the fact that there’s nothing to be gained by bringing yourself down over what has already happened.

Let today be the day you stop letting the ghosts of yesterday haunt you.  Let today be the day you stop poisoning yourself with needless hatred.  Forget about getting even with someone who hurt you, and instead get even with those who have helped.

When someone has hurt you it’s hard to be peaceful.  But you do it anyway because you know peace is the only battle worth waging.  Peace is beautiful; it is the manifestation of your love and the best resolution for a brighter future.

Being peaceful is much harder than being angry and vengeful.  It requires you to stay calm and let go of the pain. It requires you to forgive and move on.  Of course, you don’t do these things just for the person who has hurt you, but for your own well-being both physically and spiritually.

Resentment WILL kill you, but only if you let it. Don't do it! Get over the hurt and live!

Generosity

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38 KJV)

Generosity is what keeps the things you own from owning you.  In other words, generosity isn’t just to help others, it’s also to liberate you. You will end up very disappointed if you expect people will always do for you as you do for them.  Not everyone has the same heart as you, which is why you cannot live abundantly until you have done something nice for someone who can never repay you. Know this and live graciously.  There is no exercise better for your heart and mind than reaching down and lifting people up.

While giving is usually considered a selfless act, giving is often more beneficial for the giver than the receiver.  In other words, providing social support of any kind can actually be more helpful to the bigger picture of our lives than receiving it.  Intuitively I think we all know this, because it feels amazing to help someone who needs it and that’s because lasting happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.

The science behind this is simple. Performing any act of kindness releases Serotonin in your brain.  Serotonin is a natural substance that has incredible health benefits, including making you feel more joyful.  However, what’s even greater about this is that not only will you feel better, but so will others watching your act of kindness transpire. Yes, even bystanders will be blessed with a release of Serotonin just by watching you give kindness.  On a side note the job of most anti-depressants is to release more Serotonin.  Giving unconditionally removes the need for artificial stimulation.

So just keep in mind that while you can’t give all of yourself all of the time, you can give some of yourself some of the time, and doing so will make all the difference.

Follow Your Dream

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the 

nations." (Jeremiah 1:5 KJV)

Don’t be so satisfied with the success stories of others and how things have gone for them that you forget to write your own.  Don't compare your Chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 15.  Unfold your own dreams and bring them to life.  

You have everything you need to become what you are capable of becoming regardless of your age, gender, or calling. Incredible change happens when you decide to take control of your destiny in Jesus. 

This means consuming less and creating more.  It means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking and deciding for you.  It means learning to respect and use your own ideas and instincts to write your passage thru life with God's blessing.

If you want your life story to soar to new heights, you’ve got to clear a path, reduce the burdens weighing you down, and pick up the things that give you wings.  Keep your best wishes and your biggest goals close to your heart and dedicate time to them every day.

Don't Lose Your Fire

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4 KJV) 

A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.  Accepting some level of risk in life is important.  You cannot be both close-minded and wise.  You have to open up to the unknown.  Close-minded people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics.  Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it’s the farthest thing from it.  Because cynics don’t learn anything.  

Cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world that occurs when we’re afraid it will hurt us or let us down.  Cynics always say “no.”  Do the reverse.  Saying “yes” begins things.  Saying “yes” is how things grow.  Saying “yes” leads tofirsthand experience and knowledge.  “Yes” is for strong, open-minded people.  So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes.” 

Don’t be pushed by your problems.  Be led by your dreams.  Live the life you want to live.  Be the person you want to remember years from now.  Make decisions and act on them.  Make mistakes, fail and try again.  Even if you fail a thousand times, at least you won’t have to wonder what could have been.  At least you will know in your heart that you gave your dreams your best shot.  

Each of us has a fire in our hearts burning for something.  It’s our responsibility in life to find it and keep it lit.  Because it’s far better to fail in originality, our own way, than to succeed in imitation every day of our lives.  

Your Values

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." 

(2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV)

Never compromise your values.  

Don’t let the fear of being rejected stop you from affirming what’s important to you.  The right people will respect you more and hold you in higher regard if you’re rigorous about your principles, if you’re honest, and if you stay consistent about what you believe in.  This is a powerful way to solidify your relationships and to gain mutual trust. It may not be the case in the beginning, but in the long run. Furthermore, standing up for your values instantly makes you a leader, as it’s the most heroic quality one can aspire to.

-Life is not about maintaining the status quo.

-Life is not about playing it safe.

-Life is not about standing still.

It’s about connecting with your soul, respecting your integrity, and telling yourself that you’re able.  It’s about taking a few steps, regardless of how little they may be, so you can move forward, and evolve.

That’s why you were put here on this earth: to grow.  You can be challenged, scared, and stretched to your limits, but taking action will make you feel gratified beyond belief.

And the best part is: You become more decisive, more playful, and more vigorous.

So don’t be afraid to let go of your inhibitions.  Don’t be afraid to be disappointed.  Don’t be afraid to get hurt.

Ask yourself about the costs and implications of not taking action.  Then think of the new possibilities that could arise if you do dare to act.

Be daring and courageous!

Get moving and live it!

This is your one shot so take it today!

The Golden Rule

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 KJV)

Our setbacks are often mostly about us, wallowing in our own self-pity.  This doesn’t sound great, but we all do it almost every day to a small extent without noticing it.  When you catch yourself doing this, know that the best antidote is to get outside yourself, stop being self-centered, and re-focus on the people around you.  Try to find a way to help someone else.  It will inevitably, infallibly, make you feel better.

When we realize that helping others is the key to realizing our own happiness, it saves us a lot of trouble.

Truth be told, the closest thing to being cared for is to care for others.  We are all in this together and we should treat each other as such.  Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, and your hands for charity, always.  No exercise is better for your heart and mind than reaching down and helping others up.  Happiness and success in life doesn’t come through selfishness, but through selflessness.  The best way to feel alive on down days is to get up and do something positive for the folks around you.

And remember, you don’t need a reason to help someone.  Just do it.  The reason will come to you.

Let Pain Change You

"My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me."(Psalms 55:4 KJV)

There are two kinds of pain: pain that hurts and pain that changes you.  When you roll with life, instead of resisting it, both kinds help you grow.

To move forward in any situation, you must first accept the reality of what it is.  This acceptance provides you with an important starting point from which you can move in any direction you choose.  To deny this reality or to fight against the past will merely waste your time and energy.  To wish that things were different, or to pretend that they are, gets you nowhere.

Acceptance is letting go and allowing things to be the way they truly are.  It doesn’t mean you don’t care about improving the realities of life – it’s just realizing that the only thing you really have control over is yourself in the present moment.  This simple understanding is the foundation of acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be peace and growth in your life.

Forgiveness is a big part of this process.  Forgiveness is the acceptance of the present moment, as it is, without attachment to any other time, place or circumstance.  Almost all negativity is caused by a lack of forgiveness and denial of the present.  Unease, anxiety, guilt, tension, stress, worry, and resentment are caused by too much past or future, and not enough presence. The reality is pain is a part of life. Ask God to help you handle it.

In The Morning

"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."(Psalms 5:3 KJV)

As human beings we are goal oriented.  We like making progress.  When we accomplish one of our goals, we smile about it.  That’s why the happiest people I know are also some of the most successful people I know.

As your early morning winds down, the key is to funnel your attention directly into the right things, not the urgent things.  Because at some point we all wonder, “Why is it so impossible to get everything done?”  And the answer is stunningly simple: We're doing too many of the wrong things.

Several research studies have shown that people never get more done by blindly working more hours on everything that comes up.  Instead, they get more done when they follow careful plans that measure and track key priorities and milestones.  So if you want to be more successful, less stressed, and a lot happier at the end of each day, don’t ask how to make something more efficient until you’ve first asked, “Do I need to do this at all?”

Simply being able to do something well does not make it the right thing to do.  I think this is one of the most common problems with a lot of time-management advice; too often productivity gurus focus on how to do things quickly, but the vast majority of things people do quickly should not be done at all.

God Gave

God in His infinite wisdom always gave me what I needed and not what I thought I wanted. If I had gotten what I had wished for I would be a far more selfish and far less loving person today. Instead God kept me growing, learning, and becoming the person I was meant to be. Life was my school, troubles were my teachers, and the twists and turns of this world were my courses. The classes continue on as well for me, you, and everyone here. 

These days I try not to think of what I want out of life but think of what I can give to life instead. I strive to be a loving father, a caring friend, and a good neighbor. I seek to do what I can with what I have to make Earth a little more like Heaven and to show others that they can do the same. I try to share all the things I have learned these past 44 years: that God loves us more than we could ever dream, that we can love each other as well, and that when we do so we will have joy no matter what struggles we may face or losses we may endure. 

Take some time today then to think about what you can give to life. You are a beloved Child of God with unique talents, knowledge, and blessings. You can give this world so much love and do so much to help others. You can make this world and your soul a little better each day. And when you do so you will get what we all truly want out of life.

Eternal Life

Have you ever gotten up in the morning and asked yourself the question: "What in the world is life all about? What is worthwhile? I get up and go through the same routine day after day. What for?" 

James 4:14 "Wherefore ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." 

Let's examine these questions: What IS life all about? What is worthwhile? What is junk? We have only one life to live. We want to make the most of it. But how can we accomplish this, with the energy and resources we have? What in life can we afford to let go of? The answer, if we think about it, is plain: Let go of anything we can't carry with us into eternal life.

1. What about pretense? Are we 'pretenders'? Do we pretend to be something, someone we are not? Do outsiders see a different 'us' than our family sees? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16   Eternity is not for pretenders. 
   
   
2. What about worry? "Do we worry about things that MAY happen?" Leave the future to God. We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. 
   
   
3. Are we discontented? We must make the best of what we have, without complaining. Are we always wanting something better? If we look around, we can always find someone worse off than ourselves. 
   
   
4. Are we self-seeking? Are we like a two-year-old, always looking out for Number One? "In eternal life there is no greed. One hears of neither 'mine' nor 'thine'. All things are for all." 
   
   

Now here are some things we can hang on to, or adopt:

1. Make use of our time. If we waste a minute here and a minute there, before we know it, we have wasted perhaps an hour. A whole hour out of our day! The question in life is not "How much time do I have?" It is "What shall I do with the time I have?" 
   
   
2. Value work. We must ask ourselves: "Is this work vital for strengthening my own character, or inspiring others, or helping the world?" Of course, one must work to earn a living, but it is HOW we do even menial tasks that counts. We must value the work God has given us to do, and do it to please Him and to be a testimony to those with whom we work. 
   
   
3. Seek happiness every day. If we are not happy today, we will never be happy! Or as an old teacher of mine used to say: "If you are not happy anywhere, you will not be happy anywhere." It took me a few years to figure that one out. But she was right. Be happy today, regardless of circumstances. This doesn't mean that we have to go around laughing all the time. What it means is, be happy within ourselves so that our happiness will shine through us to others, radiating Christ. 
   
   
4. Cherish love. "True love never nags. It trusts. Love does not have to be tethered, neither in time or eternity." Jealous love, exclusive love, selfish love: these kinds of love are not true love. "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, nos not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil...." I Corinthians 13:4 & 5 (NKJV) 
   
   
5. Have Faith. This is all-important. "Strong, serene, unquenchable faith in the loving kindness of God will enable us to look fearlessly towards the end of the temporal existence and the beginning of the eternal, and will make it possible for us to live our lives effectively, grandly." 
   
   

Summing it all up: Let go of everything you cannot carry into eternal life.