Daily KIP: Be strong. Clearly define your standards. Be careful NOT to compromise or set aside what you know to be right or wrong. “A good person who gives in to a bad person is a muddied spring, a polluted well.” ~Proverbs 25:26 msg.

Invisible.  Have you ever felt this way OR are you feeling this currently in areas of your life?

Looking back in my life, I can recall MANY times having felt invisible:

…as a child thinking periodically, does my voice matter?  do my opinion’s matter? does anyone see me?

…in certain relationships and friendships, does this person value what I’ve done for them?  where do I fit into their plans? remember me?

…working with others, I’ve done the majority of the work yet co-workers take all the credit, REALLY?  do you see what I’ve done?

Currently, as a wife and mother I have moments where I think, does what I do matter? You know, the little things, that so often go unnoticed.  Would the things I’m doing be missed if they weren’t done? Is what I do and say making a difference or impacting the lives of others?

Over the years, I’ve been ‘growing up’, experiencing life, gaining new perspective, and learning.  I’ve come to better understand my WHY…….the reason WHY I do things.  I’ve seen my reason WHY change and evolve;  most often it’s different now from the reason WHY I used to do things.  By switching my focus and by embracing my NEW “reason why”, the invisible feelings rarely pop up ~ I like the NEW focus!

This NEW focus is communicated beautifully below in a short skit by Nicole Johnson with Fresh Brewed Life, Inc. ~ she has got this topic covered!!  You may have seen this before, as it’s been viewed by over 1 million people, but I wanted to share this powerful message.  Her message is geared towards women, BUT men ~ it’s for you too!!  I know a lot of men out there that have felt or feel invisible….

Are you OK with “building” what no one sees?  Our flesh. Our pride. Our ego. Our insecurities. Our wanting acceptance. Our wanting to please others. Our selfishness…..can so EASILY take us away from the “NEW focus”, the focus of doing it all because God sees. God sees YOU – and YOU are NOT invisible to Him.

I really like what Nicole says;  If I do it right.  If I do it well.  They will never see.  And secondly, I want my boys to say to their friends, you’re going to LOVE it there!!

Daily KIP:  When you feel like running, getting to the NEXT place, or wishing you were somewhere that you’re not ~ slow down and remember, life is on a stroll………“It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things.” ~Donald Miller

There is NOTHING like giving. True giving……..NO strings attached. NO solicitations. NO donations. NO expectations in return. THAT is the heart, the mission, the spirit behind NeedItKeepIt.org (NIKI).

Doc Compton started this non-profit organization after he experienced the joy of giving.  One of his favorite quotes is, “For of those to whom much is given, much is required”, so with that his belief is to give, give, give, give – when we give, we receive! Doc shares the story that started it all, you can click here to watch it.

Here’s the concept:  CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, AND $1 AT A TIME…

The idea is simple;  It all starts with an envelope containing one dollar and a letter about their mission.  That envelope is given to a stranger, who is instructed to follow these 4 simple steps:  Read the letter in its entirety.  If the money in the envelope comes to the reader at a time that it can have a measurable impact in their life, they are instructed to keep it.  In other words, “If you need it, keep it.”  Whether they keep it or not, the letter simply asks that the recipient let them know, via phone, email, or through their guestbook, exactly if and how it impacted them.  If they don’t need the money in the envelope, we ask that they simply pass the envelope along to someone else, ideally, adding a dollar (or more) to it, if they’re able, and compelled to do so.

The hope is that eventually, the envelope will find its way into the hands of someone who does need it, whilst having been added to by those along the way who might not have. The eventual recipient is blessed with the fruit of others’ generosity, and those who have passed it along and added to it have shared in the immense joy that giving brings.

Although the money could and most likely will be a blessing to someone who needs it, this project is NOT about the money.  It’s about the message and how it touches the hearts of all those involved.  Hearts will forever be changed, and faith in human kindness will be strengthened and restored.  The message that people care, people love, and people give will be spread by this simple act.    NIKI is 100% aware of the fact that this idea is not theirs… It is an ancient principle, but, as they are people of action, they simply wanted to help promote the idea of giving!

See NIKI in action, check out this short video……

To learn more about Need It Keep It go to their website at needitkeepit.org, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter or watch their videos on YouTube.

We are excited to join needitkeepit.org in their efforts by handing out envelopes in our community.  If you are inspired to do the same, you can get the letter we created here ~ Thank you NIKI for Keeping it Personal and for sharing your passion on giving and spreading love to others.

Daily KIP:  Sometimes we focus on the outside, bigger, broader issues so we don’t need to look at our own.  What’s happening in your house? your home? your dwelling place?  Think physically AND spiritually……….”Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens at the White House, but what happens inside your house.”  ~Barbara Bush

Daily KIP:  When you’re out and about people watching.  When someone asks you for help or is in need.  When you are presented with a new opportunity.   Pay attention to this and take note:  What is your initial reaction?  your initial thought?  You will come up with a variety of answers;  most often what happens first is where our “heart” is.  How does that look to you?  Is there work that needs to be done on the condition of your heart?

Daily KIP:  Some of us were not given these messages growing up:  It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to hurt. It’s OK to be confused.  The truth is, it is OK.  We can learn valuable insights from experiencing these things.

Daily KIP:  The WHOLE story is VERY important.  We need to remember, not to be quick to form an opinion when we only hear one side of the story.  If we do this, we risk being judgmental and potentially responding out of partial truth.  The same concept is true when we communicate our ’story’ with others; are we telling the whole story? or are we leaving out details, omitting things that could potentially make us look bad.

Daily KIP:  We can make a BIG difference if we are willing to start small and do what we can with what we have.  ”If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” ~Mother Teresa

Daily KIP:  We are all familiar with the phrase:  talk is cheap.  Most of us have been on the receiving end of this;  experienced heartbreak, pain, or disappointment.  How are you doing walking out your talk?  Does your talk match your actions? your way of living?  “Talk is cheap. Words are plentiful. Deeds are precious.”  ~H.R. Perot