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.