Wishing you an abundance of Joy.....

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."-Eph.4:1-2NIV

"Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later."-Ecc.11:1NLT

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."-Matt.5:9KJV

"The fountain of beauty is the heart, and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber."-Francis Quarles

"The surest way to be happy, is to seek happiness for others."-M.L.K. Jr.

"Try to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three-thousand-six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment."-Sydney Smith

"She has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much."-Bessie Anderson Stanley

If we ourselves strive to be happy...what is our happiness worth in a miserable world? How can you enjoy life if everything/everyone around you is miserable? You can't. God did not intend for us to be selfish, even with joy. We must seek happiness for others, if for no other reason than to be free to enjoy our own happiness. Help someone else feel happy. Not just today, but every day. Make it a point to brighten someone else's day and you can be sure that your own level of happiness will increase dramatically. We are not in this world alone, so it is not enough for us to simply focus on ourselves and our own happiness. To improve the world, you must help others to grow and be happy as well. Acknowledge the importance of others just as you want your own importance to be acknowledged. Pour out love abundantly and you will never be without it.

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Let Your Light Shine!!:)

"You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father."-Matt.5:14-16

"Everyone of us has been given a hand to win. The problem is we keep comparing our hand to others' so we never discover the greatness within ourselves."-G.Z.

"The ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."-Steve Jobs

What is it that God is calling you to do? What gift has he built within your character that he wants for you to cultivate and use? What beautiful light are you keeping hidden from the world?? It is so easy for us to downplay our gifts, our talents, our interests and therefore never use them to give glory to God. Unfortunately, it's just as easy for others to downplay us as well, simply because they do not understand or can't relate. God has made us all uniquely. He has a special job for each and every one of his children, and not every one's job is the same. Therefore, not every one's mind can think exactly the same. We are all designed to serve our specific purpose in God's plan. You have to listen to the convictions that he places on YOUR heart, not anyone else's. You have to also trust God and do NOT allow other's positions in life to get you off track. Be proud of your character, as long as it is pleasing to God. Recognize your abilities and strengthen them. Encourage others to fulfill their purpose as well. Just because it's not "for you" necessarily, doesn't mean that it can't improve the world in some way, and therefore please God. Allow everyone to fill their role in God's earth...including yourself. Let your light shine...bright as can be and don't measure yourself by other's standards...only by God's.

"The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent, nor the daisy of it's simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, Spring would lose its loveliness."-Therese of Lisieux

Your voice was made to Praise HIM!!:)

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."-Psalm89:1

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto thy name, O most high:"-Psalm92:1

"Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob."-Psalm81:1

"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name:make his praise glorious."-Psalm66:1-2

"Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise."-Psalm33:1-3

"Do not have your concert first and then tune your instruments afterward. Begin the day with GOD."-J. Hudson Taylor

Music is so powerful. It can calm us down or get us energized, make us happy, sad, and even seem to act as a "time-machine" at times taking us back to certain moments in our lives. Music sets the tone. The Lord enjoys music as well. He loves when we sing praises to him, glorifying his name. If you don't feel like you have the time to dedicate to God on a daily basis, why not sing about him on your car-ride or in the shower? Out loud in front of others if you have the guts or the voice(lol). Even listening to others sing about the Lord's greatness, is counted as praise if you are able to meditate on the words and truly "feel" the message. Music is an instant mood-lifter so give it a try. Praise God and make your own day better as well. Sing about his goodness and all that he has done for you...I think God deserves a love-song...don't you??

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Encouragement

Encouragement:something that encourages: Praise is the greatest encouragement.(dictionary.com)

"Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."-Acts 13:15

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers..."-Eph.4:25a

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."-Phil.4:8

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."-Heb.3:13

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."-Heb.10:24-25

"My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right."-Prov.23:15-16

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around."-Leo Buscaglia

"We are all capable of recognizing other's flaws, that is no great accomplishment. It is the person who can recognize the good in everyone, who is truly gifted and accomplished."-Angelface

Sometimes we forget how important encouragement truly is. Not just when someone is feeling down or going through something, but in everyday life. It's not always easy to do the right things or to stay on the right path and so, yes, a little encouragement is always helpful. God desires for us to stay pure of heart and to act accordingly, but he also desires for us to help others do the same. Sometimes, we can be so quick to let someone know how upset we are at something that they have done wrong, and yet silence overcomes us when they have done something good, something positive, something right. People like attention, they like to be noticed and recognized. Why not give them positive attention by noticing and acknowledging their positive actions. Encourage others to stay on track. Our own actions can also serve as a form of encouragement, so we must always be mindful of what we do and say. Today, I encourage you to encourage others. Point out the positive and stay away from the negative. And to everyone reading: I am so glad that you are giving these few moments to God today, continue to do so and be Blessed:)

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Forgiveness for Sins

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,"-Romans3:23-25NLT

"And I convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below -indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us form the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."-Romans8:38-29NLT

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."-Isaiah1:18

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."-Titus3:5

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"-Matt.6:14

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake."-I John2:12

"Why are we fearful to admit our faults? It is because we are expecting others to judge us as we would judge them. Don't be so harsh in your judgements of others, and you won't be so harsh on yourself."-Angelface

The greatest news ever told....Our sins are forgiven!! At times, we are so hard on ourselves, believing that our sins, our mistakes, have the power to make God turn his back on us. We believe that God is mad at us, or no longer wants to communicate with us. The truth of the matter is that God knew that we would make mistakes. He knows that we are not perfect, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves or others that we are. Sometimes, it is our obsession with believing that we are perfect that makes us so very ashamed of even the smallest mistakes. God knowing that we are imperfect, sent his son to shed his innocent blood to cover our sins. The devil would have us believe that our sins have the power to cancel out our relationship with Christ; but our heavenly Father sees us through Jesus Christ' pure blood. Regardless of what we have done, as long as we admit that we are not perfect, and we believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for the covering of our sins...The Lord sees us as righteous. He will always love us, and he will never leave us. There is nothing that you can do to separate yourself from God's love. He already gave you his mercy, his forgiveness, all we must do is accept it. Don't be so hard on yourself when you fall. Just as a parent expects their child to fall a few times while learning to walk, the Lord expects us to fall a few times (or more) while learning to walk righteously. Be patient with yourself and with others. And while it is good to strive for perfection - remember that no one is perfect, we all make mistakes from time to time. Its about learning and growing from those mistakes so that we don't make the same ones over and over.

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

LOVE....

"Love must be sincere."-Romans12:19

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last Forever........ .......Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love---and the greatest of these is love."-I Cor.13:1-8 & 13NLT (One of my favorite chptrs in the Bible btw..)

What more is there to say? The Bible tells us all there is to know about love. But can we practice it? Can we truly live a life of love? We are ordered by God to Love him more than we love ourselves, and to love others just as much as we love ourselves. Learn what LOVE is today. Study it, embrace it, own it, become it....LOVE.

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."-Ephes.4:31-32

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."-Acts 20:35b

"The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions- The little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt compliment."-Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Spread some Joy today. Give a sincere compliment. Share some GOOD NEWS. Encourage someone to smile. Tell a Joke. Make your mission to be... brightening someone else's day!!!:)

"Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks."-Charles Dickens

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Armor of God

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."-I Thess.5:8

How do we remain strong? How do we remain positive? How do we remain in God's favor? By putting on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD. Everyday is a battle. A battle against the will of your flesh and the will of your spirit. A battle against obedience and disobedience. A battle against positive and negative. We must know what it is that we are up against in order to be able to defend against it. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"-Ephes.6:10-18. Learn how to strengthen your armor. All that you need to know is in God's word. Learn truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, love, hope, and the Bible. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God,"-II Tim.2:15a

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to Others:)

NO FEAR.....

"Fear not: for I am with thee:"-Isaiah43:5a

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid...."-Psalm56:3-4NIV

"What has fear ever accomplished?? Only one thing...and that is...a lack of accomplishment."-Angelface

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand."-Isaiah41:10

"Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced for you will not be put to shame;"-Isaiah54:4a

Fear...such a small, yet powerful word. It is the reason for so many things undone, the culprit behind so many walls put up, both literally and figuratively. If only we could understand and believe that fear is the only true thing worth fearing. We are children of God, what is there that we won't get beyond? What is there that we can not endure? NOTHING. We are conquerors! Everywhere we go, every obstacle that we face, God says, "Fear not: for I am with thee:" Fear stops us from achieving our goals. It convinces us were are not good enough. It stops us from being adventurous, it prevents us from taking a chance, it prevents us from loving fully, it prevents us from letting people get "too close", it prevents us from being ourselves boldly, it prevents some even from getting to know the Lord. Fear can take away laughter and joy,...that natural, free medicine of life... Why would we let something take away our ability to laugh?? Fear can rob us of appreciation. We can be so worried about tomorrow that we fail to appreciate today...the now, the here, the moment. Fear can make us go through traumatic experiences over and over again....long before anything traumatic ever even happens in reality. We'll be so busy being fearful of it happening, that we go through all the emotions anyway! Some animals won't even attack unless they sense your fear. It's how they determine who's weak. The devil plays off of our fears...it's his tool to break us down and try to separate us from God. Evil rulers control with fear; the second that fear is broken...they lose all control, their kingdoms crumble...because fear is not a true foundation. Fear is an illusion. Fear is simply ignorance. There is nothing of this World to be feared. We are only to fear the Lord, and he is not of this World. Today, release your fears. They keep you in bondage. Why be a prisoner when God has set you free from bondage? Trust in God, trust in his plan. Realize that your fear is not going to make or break his plan anyway. You have no control over what is going to happen, or what isn't going to happen...so just LIVE. LOVE. DO. Be wise in all things, not foolish. But realize that knowledge and caution are so very different from fear. Make a list of at least 5 things that fear has stopped you from doing, and before the year is out...do them all. You'll see that it wasn't so bad after all. Live a fear-free life and live it to the fullest, all actions pleasing God. Faith pleases God, because it shows that you trust him and you love him. "There is not fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."-I John4:18

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Consider This...

"Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others."-Wm. J.H. Boetcker

"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things."-Prov.15:28

We have all done it...judged a situation prematurely, gotten upset with someone without knowing all the facts...been inconsiderate. Why do we do it? "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."-Prov.14:29 If someone were to call us inconsiderate or thoughtless, our feelings would probably be hurt. We would quickly become defensive and say, "No! Not me!" (Prov.16:2-All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.) Yet, when we judge a situation without taking the time to evaluate the facts, and deliberately meditate on them...you are guilty of being inconsiderate. (Consideration:1.The act of considering; careful thought; meditation; deliberation 2.Something that is to be kept in mind in making a decision, evaluating facts, ect. 3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or respect; thoughtfulness for others.) Not only would the World be a much better place if we all took the time out just to be considerate, but I guarantee that our personal relationships would all improve if we simply practiced more consideration. How do we accomplish this? First, it is important that we learn to stick strictly to the facts. Too many times, we allow our emotions, expectations, or personal opinions and beliefs to cloud our judgements and we base our decisions and reactions off of that, instead of just dealing with the facts. The problem with emotions is that they are ever-changing. The problem with expectations is that they can be unrealistic. The problem with personal opinions and beliefs are that...well they are personal(1.of or pertaining to, coming from, or intended for a particular person;individual;private 2.intended for use by one person). Therefore, what works for one person, may not necessarily work for the next, and so finding a compromise based on some common grounds may prove to be impossible. Facts, however, (fact: something that actually exists;reality;verifiable truth) can not be changed. They are what they are, and they remain exactly the same regardless of what person is dealing with them. Facts have no respect of persons. Learn to base your judgements off of facts and you will naturally be a little more considerate. Next step is to empathize. (empathy: the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.) Try putting yourself in the shoes of whoever the person is that you are dealing with. Try to imagine that it were you in their current situation. Ask yourself what your feelings would be, so that you can possibly understand where they are coming from. Then, ask yourself, not only what you would do...but also, how you would want others to respond/react to you. I don't mean how you would feel if you were exactly as you currently are... I mean if you were truly to fill that other person's shoes, take on whatever situation they were in, as a whole. Look at all angles, all variables, all factors involved. The second commandment is: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."-Matt.22:39. The same consideration, the same thought, that you put into yourself and your decision making, should be put into the way that you interact with, respond to, and treat others...at all times. It could be something as complex as an argument with a co-worker, friend, family member or stranger or something as simple as putting yourself in the shoes of the person in traffic waiting patiently to switch lanes when you could clearly let them go in front of you...there is always a reason to be considerate.
God did not make us the strongest or the largest creatures on the Earth, yet he gave us rule over all other creatures. What makes us equipped to have such power?? Our superior level of intelligence (capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.) Utilize this gift; take the time out to think, meditate, and be considerate. The reward you will get within your relationships and interactions with others is so worth it. So many times, we wonder what is going wrong with our relationships, we think we've tried every remedy, and we just can't pinpoint what it is that could be wrong....Have you tried simply being considerate?? I'll end with this quote that is oh so true and fitting...
"There is but one genuine love-potion---Consideration."-Menander of Athens Quotes

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Lend a Helping Hand

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."-Romans15:1

"Learn to do well; seek judgement, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow."-Isaiah1:17

"Wherever a man turns, he can find someone who needs him."-Albert Schweitzer

We have all had times that we wished someone would take on our load, help us out and give us a shoulder to lean on. Knowing this, we should be understanding of others currently in that position. Pride, is many times the culprit that thwarts us from simply asking for help, even when we need it the most. What we can do as Christians, is give help, understanding, patience, and love without ever being asked. "He who gives when he is asked, has waited too long."-Sunshine Magazine. Look around you and see God's children. Everyone of them presents an opportunity for you to be charitable, and helpful. When we are strong, we are to help those who are weak. When we have, we are to give to those who do not. Find a way today to help others. Even if you feel as though it is you that needs the help, let go of self, and focus on what you can do to help someone else. The more you help others, the less help you yourself will need. Test it out, see God's promise work. As long as you are doing the Lord's will, he will take care of you. He instructs us to help those who need help and so that is what we must do. Help can come in many forms. Simply being patient with someone is a form of help, because you don't know what battle they are facing that day. Listening to someone, lightening their load; ask God...and he will show you how he wants to use you to help someone. You have the power to make or break some one's day...what will you do with that power? Will you give that compliment? Will you stand up for them? Will you pray for and with them? God is watching, waiting...make him proud. Spread some Love today!!:)

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:) Enjoy your weekend and fellowship:)

Make Peace!!:)

"Be Angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" Ephesians4:26

"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." Prov.10:19

"When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."-Confucius
Someone has upset you, or offended you.... Do you speak on it or do you let it go??
You have an outright issue with someone....Do you resolve it with them or ignore it??The answers, I believe, are within the above Bible verses. Prov10:19 explains that even though we would like to discuss our feelings, points of view, and differences peacefully....the reality is that that may seldom end up being the case. Naturally, we are going to defend our motives, our judgements, because every man is right in his own eyes. Knowing that life is short and that stress is not to be taken lightly, the Bible says that the man who "lets it go" and keeps his silence is wise. We must choose our battles wisely. Therefore, if possible, it is better to keep silent than to try and make our point known to someone who's views obviously differ on the subject...simply for the sake of truly keeping peace and avoiding the possibility of sin. Now, of course most people will tell you, "If I've done something to offend you, PLEASE let me know...". They may even understand that you simply did not want to argue, but they appreciate it when someone feels comfortable enough with them to be open about any and everything. This is where our "quote of the day" comes into play. If you are wondering why someone didn't feel comfortable with coming to you, perhaps its time to evaluate yourself. Put a mirror up to yourself, review your own actions and ask yourself, "Why didn't this person feel as though they could come to me?" Even a liar, has a reason to lie. Most children lie to their parents, for example, out of fear of getting in trouble. If someone doesn't tell you every time that you've offended them, perhaps your reaction in the past has been something that they are trying desperately to avoid. If I tell my husband, or mother for example that they have offended me in some way, they are usually quickly apologetic. That's not to say that they think that I'm correct, or that they meant to offend me in the first place; it's just that they are letting me know...that they want to be aware of how they make me feel and they respect my feelings...different or not. However, if someone tells you that you've offended them, and you instead try your hardest to convince them of your point of view, and debate even with them...who would feel like going through that over and over again?? People will quickly learn, there is no point in telling you because you're only going to try and make them into you instead of respecting their feelings and being apologetic. Don't be that person...show humility, show respect and others will always feel free to be open and honest with you. Second question's answer and second verse Ephesians4:26 says that you are not to let the sun go down upon your wrath. Never leave and open argument unresolved. (Matt.5:23&24..tells us that God doesn't even want your offerings until you are at peace with those around you.) How can we truly say we love the Lord and hold resentment, bitterness or any uneasiness against one of his children? It is not possible to please God by doing this. (Matt.25:40...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.) God wants us to treat everyone as we would treat him, because we belong to him, and he loves us, so he feels our pain as well as our joys. Prov. 6:3&4 tells us not to even give sleep to our eyelids before we have humbled ourselves and made peace with everyone. It's tough of course, problems always seem to arise at the most inconvenient of times...we're busy, we're already stressed, or even quite literally about ready for bed...However, God makes it very crystal clear, that we are not to rest until we have resolved all issues with his children and without having done this...our work for the day is not complete...so we are not at liberty to go on to sleep and move on to the next day. The Bible consistently shows how important love and peace are to God and we are to make it a priority in our hearts as well, if we aim to please him. Nothing takes precedence over resolving a matter against one of God's children...and we are all God's children. In the same way, if you see two of God's children having a matter against one another, or not at perfect peace with one another...you are to do your best to either help remind them of their obligation to resolve the issue peacefully, or if you have no positive, Biblical words to share...you are to remain uninvolved and silent. God will not be pleased with those who try to further divide his children, by lying, spreading gossip, stepping inbetween a possible reconciliation, or encouraging any negative feelings in any way. Do your part, wholeheartedly, to make peace so that God may be pleased with you. And in handling all issues, even and especially when deciding which route to take...Ask God for guidance..."He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."-Prov.16:20 God will hear you, he will help you, and you will come out stronger and even wiser in the end...Follow his Word, and you can never take a wrong turn. THANK YOU GOD for guiding my path!!:)

God Bless and Be a Blessing to Others:)

HAPPY HOME

Home is where the heart is, where you can laugh and cry freely, where all is forgiven, understood and accepted. Home is where true love exists, unconditional, unwavering love. I could travel to the furthest corners of the Earth, even fly off into space...With love in my heart...I can always be at home!:)

Recognize the value of each individual in your life. God knows exactly who you need in your life and he knows just when to place them there. Some are only there for a season, and some for a lifetime...yet all are equally important. Recently, I have learned this to be so very true. I have learned lessons and recieved blessings through some of the most unlikely sources or people...simply because I asked God to guide me. I guess you could say that I am practicing being "emotionally blindfolded" in a sense, with God as my guide. Unfortunately, certain people's seasons have passed in my life, yet I trust that those beautiful seasons will come again either with those same people or new ones in the future. Its funny because I'm at a point in my life right now where God is using people that I felt so distant from, to connect with me, encourage me, inspire and motivate me. I can't help but to laugh even, because I realize "yes...God does know exactly what he is doing." It makes me appreciate these people that much more. Everyone has a purpose in your life but we must remain open to learn what that purpose is. You never know, even your worst enemy may just be the one to teach you one of the greatest lesssons in your life. Today, I thank God for not listening to what I believed the plan for my life should have been...But I also thank each and every individual that I have ever encountered for helping me...because you all have in one way or another, without even knowing it...Thank You!!:)

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to Others:)

Searching for Love...

So many people are searching for love these days everywhere and anywhere. There are thousands of dating websites and even tv shows based on how to find love and how to act to supposedly attract your "perfect person". I feel so bad for these people that are looking so hard in so many of the wrong places and in the wrong ways. Love is a wonderful thing if you've ever truly experienced the real thing. However, with true love, you do not have to search for it; true love will surely find you. There is also no need to change the way you talk or dress or act, as some of the shows on tv will make you believe. For every individual person, there is someone out there who will appreciate every strange, unique behavior about them. Even personality traits that some of us see as obvious "flaws" like being controlling, or being a gold-digger for example. Believe it or not, there is someone out there that truly wants to be controlled, and there is also someone out there who may not have the time of day to dedicate themselves fully emotionally in a relationship, yet would love to spend endless amounts of money on that "gold digger". These traits may not sound like the make-up of a healthy relationship to the majority of us, but in all actuality, who exactly can define what's healthy, normal or otherwise? I consider my husband to be "perfect for me". That's not at all to say that he is without flaws; it's just to say that his flaws work well with my personality and we complement each other. He is somehow able to handle all of my flaws as well and for me, he's what's perfect.
One will never be able to find their true soul mate if they are not being true to themselves. When you go out on a first date, you should never feel like you are on an interview. At job interviews we often try our hardest to put our best face forward and are honestly somewhat "fake". Not that you should pour all your flaws out on the table within the first hour, but simply be yourself! I know that that may sound so cliche, but it is so very true. If I were to act like my friend on a date and a guy really enjoyed the date and wanted to go out again, I would have to know that he didn't really like me at all... he liked that friend that I imitated. What good would that ever do me? Be confident instead with yourself. If you have boundaries, or standards that you feel strongly about, do not compromise them for anyone. All that you can give of yourself is what you have; simply stated. You must know that if someone doesn't like what you have to offer in looks, personality, financially or otherwise, then that person is just not for you. Honestly, you are better off without them because when we try to mold ourselves into what we think is a likable person, we are trying too hard to please others and make someone else happy. Down the line you will realize that if you do this, it will be you who is unhappy, resulting in yet another failed relationship. So put yourself out there for the world to see, all of your quirky, strange habits and interests. I believe you will be very surprised at who is actually interested in how amazing you are. Most importantly...what is meant for us will come to us. Don't rush love or anything else, all good things are worth waiting for; God does know what he is doing and he knows when you are ready for love, but know that it won't be until you can truly love yourself.
God Bless Always and remember to be a blessing to others.

After the fighting, there can still be love

Although it is very quiet all around me, I can hear so many sounds. I can hear the thousands of thoughts racing through my mind as I try so hard to calm my anger, my frustration. How is that after so many years my love, my friend, my husband can still not fully understand me?! Of course my initial reaction is to be hurt and argue and then I want to run away. I want to avoid even seeing him so that I don't feel compelled to speak to him. I convince myself, if only for a moment, that I can't stand him and that we are not at all compatible. Then, I cry myself to sleep from the pain of being so lonely without him. Not that I couldn't literally be without him, but just the simple thought of knowing that emotionally I am trying to disconnect from my soul mate, the other half of my heart, it pains me much too deeply. When I awake from a very hard slumber that lasts hours in the middle of a sunshiny day, my mind is refreshed and somehow refocused. I realize that of course I love this man, that's exactly why it hurts so bad when we disagree, when I feel like he doesn't understand me. I learn over time that we are indeed two very different people and yet it is our differences that draw us closer to one another. I could never expect for him to think and act identical to me because then he would have nothing of interest to offer me. I fell in love with him because of his different views on things and I love that he's not afraid to challenge me on my views. This is what happens in relationships. People disagree, we argue but it's how we handle things after we've "awaken from our slumber" and after our minds refocus. Too often people feel that after one too many arguments it's time to call it quits and that there can be no reconciliation. These same people then find themselves wondering why they fail to have successful relationships time and time again. It's a simple answer really. You can never grow together if you never endure anything together. Being that we are different people, we are bound to disagree sometimes and since most of us want to be in control or just be right, we often argue with someone who sees things differently from us. Instead, each disagreement should be a learning experience and we should appreciate an honest opinion other than our own from time to time. Not agreeing on every single issue should never result in the ending of a relationship, unless you intend on forever being single. Choose your battles wisely and when you must gear up and fight...fight fair and remember that in the end you will still be friends so burn no bridges and keep the love flowing. The more you endure together, the more intense the relationship will become. Remember: No matter how much someone urks your last nerve, when you love them it is NEVER okay to physically harm them in any way.
God Bless Always and remember to be a blessing to others.