We find that there is no better way to start our day than with some inspiration. It helps keep us grounded and in tune with what’s most important.
February 5, 2013
If you want something, give it away. If you want compliments; compliment others. If you need affirmation; affirm others. If you want to be forgiven; forgive others. If you want to be loved, love others. Remember, what goes around comes around. Don’t expect things to start with others; let things start with you.
January 31, 2013
Living out what you know is when knowledge, having facts, turns into wisdom, applying facts. We can gain plenty of knowledge, but unless we apply it, it is useless. Are you wise? Intentional about living out what you know to be true and right? What holds you back? ”Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” ~ Proverbs 1:7
January 29, 2013
Think about the people in your world. Is there someone who you could reach out to, connect with, encourage, stop by and see, or take the time to visit with? Make a conscious effort to bring a “bright spot” to someone TODAY; be a light! “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” ~ Edith Wharton
January 24, 2013
Who’s inventory are you taking? If something is bothering you in relationships, a situation, at work, in life, chances are there is likely something about yourself that needs attention. Instead of taking others’ inventory, turn inside and take your own.
January 23, 2013
How do you handle conflict with others? Do you share your issues with everyone else to justify your position and “side”? or Do you go directly to the person and work on a resolution? This is not always the path of least resistance, but one that needs to be traveled more often.
January 22, 2013
Put on love; what does that look like to you? Is love a choice or a feeling? God IS Love. Love IS patient, kind, understanding. Love is NOT selfish, irritable, resentful, envious. “And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Col. 3:14. Are you wearing Love?
January 17, 2013
Excuses; why do we make them? Could it be fear? laziness? or a lack of interest? An excuse is a cover-up, defense, stall, or a justification. Excuses might be something we come up with instead of sharing our honest feelings. The next time you’re leaning towards sharing a list of excuses, pause and ask yourself why? Why not a direct answer. forward. transparent?
January 16, 2013
Don’t underestimate what others in your sphere of influence are learning from your actions. What is your “show” teaching? ”To teach is to show. You can’t teach what you don’t know. You can’t guide where you don’t go. And you can’t grow what you don’t sow.” ~ Kevin Hall
January 15, 2013
So many of us look to things, people, or situations to “make” us happy. Do you fall into that category? If so, how’s that working for you? “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” ~ Frederick Keonig
January 10, 2013
Decision vs. Indecision. Do you know what you want? your purpose? where you’re headed? Do you wrestle with deciding? If so, what prevents you from letting your ‘yes be yes’ and your ‘no be no’? Maybe it’s lack of confidence, lack of courage. Maybe it’s fear of failure, fear of what others will think, fear of making the wrong decision. “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” ~unknown
January 9, 2013
Criticism is verbal disapproval, fault-finding. It can be found in most relationships. When communicating your opinion, observation, or evaluation, consider positive recommendations instead of criticizing. ”Criticism will plant fear in the human heart, or resentment, but it will not build love or affection.” ~ Napoleon Hill
January 8, 2013
When we struggle or are wounded in our lives. Many of us focus on the solution. the fix. the cure; looking for a band-aid. What about the cause? What caused the pain, struggle or wound that needs attention? If the cause is overlooked, if we continue to fix the problem instead of getting to the root or core, the problem will continue to surface. Do you look for “band-aids” or tools to dig up the “roots”?
January 6, 2013
Complacent: pleased with oneself or one’s merits, advantages; often without awareness of some potential danger or defect, self-satisfied. Living this way, one may feel happy, pleased, or confident. BUT, complacency can be smug, egotistic, and self-righteous. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It’s an excuse for inaction, a call to non-arms.” ~Colin Powell
January 3, 2013
We ALL have subjects in our lives where we are ignorant. uneducated. naive. “green” – in the dark. unknowing. Ignorance can cramp conversations and cause arguments. When it gets started; it has NO boundaries. Are you embarrassed to admit that you are ignorant of what you do not know? Try to be a know it all? “The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.” ~Ben Franklin
January 2, 2013
What would an life energetic and blazing with holiness; faith, purity, grace humility – life look like for YOU? What would it take to be pulled in THAT direction? ”Let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.” 1peter 1:15
January 1, 2013
May your written pages for 2013 be filled with discovering TRUTH. embracing LOVE. experiencing JOY. “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” – E. L. Pierce {{ HAPPY NEW YEAR!! }}
December 31, 2012
As you wrap-up this year, and look forward to what’s NEXT; what growth, energy, activity, sparkle, LIFE will you sow into 2013? What is it for YOU? What’s your: Purpose. Aim. Resoluteness. Goal. Ambition. Desire. “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” - Abraham Lincoln
December 27, 2012
We are ALL created equal; as great as, the same as. IF we strive to live by the royal law, “Love your neighbor as yourself” – we would treat all people with consideration, fair, without favoritism, or judgement. Do you need improvement in this area? If so, remember mercy. kindness. compassion; remember God’s mercy upon us.
December 26, 2012
Bitter OR Better? When you get hurt, which do you choose to become? We ALL get hurt and WILL again and again. What we do with the hurt and pain is our choice. We can move through it now; become better. Deal with it later and allow the pain to linger, or keep it forever and become bitter. What’s your choice?
December 25, 2012
Emmanuel; God with US. We were blessed with VERY special gifts; Love, Grace, and the message of Freedom so many years ago on Christmas. As we celebrate this day today remember WHY…..GIVE the priceless gifts away; MERRY CHRISTmas! ”There has been only one CHRISTmas, the rest are anniversaries.” – W.J. Cameron
December 20, 2012
A new year is just around the corner. What keeps you going; fuels you to press on? Maybe: Hope. Belief. Dream. Goal. Desire. Faith. What will it take for you to NOT QUIT; not stop “three feet from the gold”? To be patient? “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” – Anne Lamott
December 19, 2012
When we look forward to something or have anticipation about an outcome of a situation, or with others, we have to ensure that our expectations do NOT get in the way. Looking forward to something is one thing; expecting specific results is another.
December 18, 2012
Anger is being mad, having animosity, or a strong feeling of displeasure. Anger is a valid feeling, BUT when we HOLD onto anger, we hold onto pain. Are you feeling pain because you’re choosing to stay angry? Look inside, search for truth, what would it take to move forward? “When you are offended at any man’s fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.” – Epictetus
December 13, 2012
Many people wrestle with feelings of loneliness. It’s amazing how, even being surrounded by others, one can still feel lonely. For some, these feelings are secrets held inside. Show you care through friendship, being “big-hearted”, considerate, and hospitable; these simple things can make significant impact. “The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” - Mother Teresa
December 12, 2012
Enough. Plenty. Adequate. Sufficient. Living in a society where its all about more, more, more… when will it be enough? Are you wrapped up in “more”? ”Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.” - Charles Dudley Warner
December 11, 2012
EVERYDAY we are a work in progress. changing. growing. learning. We are the clay…..WHO is your potter? “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
December 7, 2012
We ALL make mistakes. We are all unique, thus our mistakes can be too! An area one person may “mess-up” in, another may not. Some people’s mistakes are external, exposed for everyone to see, while others have internal challenges. Knowing this, why is it that we can be so harsh or judgmental towards others about their struggles?
December 5, 2012
Some of us are really GREAT at giving good advice, BUT are we setting good examples? Are we walking-the-walk of the talk-we-talk? “A good example has twice the value of good advice” – unknown
December 4, 2012
Is there a measuring stick for failure? Failure is an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success. If success means something different to everyone, wouldn’t it be safe to say that failure follows suit? We are our own worst critic when it comes to measuring – to what can we compare our efforts to? Are you believing the lie that you are a failure? “There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them.” – Tom Krause
November 29, 2012
Simply acknowledging to ourselves areas where we’ve been wrong can be extremely humbling. Taking action with that knowledge can be painfully difficult. Doing the hard “stuff” when we know it’s right, can reap GREAT rewards. “One of the hardest things in this world is to admit you are wrong. And nothing is more helpful in resolving a situation than its frank admission.” – Benjamin Disraeli