“Need Courage?” Blog #232

Where DOES my confidence come from?

What makes me WANT to do the right thing?

How do I find the right tools to feel good about myself?

For most of my life, everything around me in my secular world told “do it alone”. Find

strength, do it alone, take on challenges, this convinces me I made it….right? I can’t

describe what an empty feeling it is inside, facing everything in my life - a l o n e. Let’s look

at it backwards for a minute. It does NOT take any courage to walk into a grocery story

and buy all kinds of comfort food including ice cream, sweets and pastries. It does not

take any courage to sleep late into the day and lay around with a sad feeling and a “poor

me” attitude. It does not take courage to plan my day, just for me, and justify all the

reasons I need NOT think of helping or being there or doing something for someone else!

What does take courage it to “feel the fear and do it anyway”. Overlook a mean,

thoughtless, cruel comment from someone I care about and send them love anyway.

What? What does take courage? Deciding to make a conscience act of doing good in

spite of being slighted, feeling afraid to do it.

There WAS one woman who suddenly decided enough was enough. She refused to give

up her seat on a bus just because she was black. This woman was Rosa Parks. She helped

bring freedom to the black people, by bringing this to the public attention. Look at what

courage it took for this one small woman to make this defiant decision.

We need to be the change, each of us wish to see in the world”, Ghandi.

Once I make up my mind I am not afraid to stand up with courage and be who I know God

made me to be. I can free myself from the heavy bonds of fear weighing me down.

I now choose to believe in Miracles, believe in Jesus Christ and believe the Holy Spirit

lives within me. Because of my belief, this is called Courageous Christian Faith.

When one has this type of courage, there is no failing. There is no fear of falling, falling

for things that do not hold the strength of Christian Conviction. I have said before, It takes

courage to just do the right thing. Courage to get up in the morning, make my bed, put on

some nice clothes, “let go of yesterday” and find a way to help someone today. Why?

Because it takes courage to care about something other than myself. When I feel a

peace come over me with a decision I have made, it is the right one!

There is a beautiful book written by Lynn Valentine, “Angels all Around Us”. Inside the book

is a short story called “In the Blink of an Eye”. Arlene Cahill shares a true story about her son

who was deathly sick and had a very high fever. She was afraid her son would die. Yet,

she prayed continuously, watching and comforting him with cool wash clothes to his

forehead. Praying the fever would break, she decided to light the special Baptismal

Candle she was saving downstairs from his Baptism. While getting the candle, she bowed

her head and thanked God for sending healing rays to her son. She ventured back up the

stairs. As she got closer to her son’s bedroom, she felt something unbelievable in the air. It

was as if the atmosphere around her was charged with the most powerful electrical

energy. “The hairs on my arms and on the back of my neck, began to stand on end”, she

stated. Not really knowing what to make of this, she hurried to her son’s room and opened

the door. Then she saw a miracle. Above her son was a glowing being hovering over her

son’s bed. It seemed to be made completely of light and reminded her only of an angel.

There was no sound made, yet the being did seem to notice her. Then in a blink of an

eye, it was gone. The very next morning Arlene’s son was in perfect health! He had no

recollection of what transpired the night before. Yet, Arlene has never forgotten. She will

always remember. She witnessed a miracle happen right before her eyes. Arlene believes

the visitation of her sons’ Guardian Angel was sent in reply to her prayer. Do I have

courage to believe in this true story? I absolutely do. When I give kind words to another

soul in need, I am sending “spiritual medicine” of strength. Its time for me to embrace this

truth. Anyone can do the easy stuff. It takes courage to step outside my lower self, into a

higher realm of awareness.

Can I let Jesus show me the way to find courage today?

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“Do Not Give In!” Blog #231

Does life just seem unreasonable today?

Where am I going with negative thoughts inside?

Am I searching for a way out and ready to give in?

Sometimes a true story sends a greater message than all kinds of suggestions, ideas and

platitudes. This is a story that has struck my heart and has shown me how a person can

do anything when one puts their mind to doing it.

There was a little boy, seven years old, who witnessed his mother dying and was

devastated by her loss. He was left alone with his father and sister. An extremely poor

family, they suffered for want of everything. The little boys father felt it important he find

good work and a kind mother for his two children. Because this story took place in the

1800’s, it was common place, but dangerous, to leave the two children alone in the woods

in a one room log cabin in Kentucky. Yet, their father felt it best and was gone for many

months. Somehow the brother and sister survived off the land and trappings of animals to

eat. When the father came back with a mother for the children, she was a very kind

stepmother. She brought a small library of books into the family home. Along with the

stepmother, the young boy taught himself to read by the firelight at the end of his long

work days on the farm. The first book he learned to read was the Bible. He believed in

God and believed in living an honest, truth-filled, good life. Once he learned to read the

Bible he went on to read Aesops Fables, Robinson Crusoe and all of Shakespeare’s Plays.

He especially loved to read the life of George Washington. After helping his father for

many years on the farm, the young boy was now 22 years old. It was time for him to set

out on his own. Over the next few years he lived in the state of Illinois. Trying many odd

jobs, he became a boatsman, a surveyor, a store clerk and a militia soldier. Eventually he

felt confident in his learning and opened a law office and began a career as a lawyer. He

seldom lost a single case he took. Everything about this young man was kind, humble and

filled with the desire to keep learning and never give in! He stood for what was right. He

proved to people wrong cannot survive. He ran for office, becoming the 16th President of

the United States of America. While in office, our country went into Civil War. He carefully

constructed the Gettysburg Address. This man believed in freeing all the slaves, thereby

writing the Emancipation Proclamation. While doing all this, he was married and he and

his wife had four sons. Three of his sons died. Still he never gave up or gave in. He was

elected President of the United States two times and was responsible for ending the Civil

War, only to be shot five days later in Ford’s Theater. Abraham Lincoln was just 56 years

old when he was assassinated on April 1st, 1865 in Washington D. C.

This self-taught humble man would do anything for his fellow man. He believed in his

country and all through the Civil War, he had to bring his country together. For the South

(eleven states) had left the nation and formed the Confederate States of the South. They

believed slavery was right. The 23 Northern states were in the Union and believed slavery

was wrong. One man - Abraham Lincoln was responsible for bringing our country

together. So on the eve of this Bicentennial Anniversary of our U. S. A., it is imperative we

remember just how costly freedom is. Just how much one person did to influence, change

and help heal a country. In the end, because of all our brave soldiers and Abraham

Lincoln, Freedom Won. However, our freedom was very costly and by the end of the Battle

at Gettysburg, over 50,000 men were lost and killed! Unfortunately, this was just one battle.

There wound up being over 230 Battles during the War between the North and the South.

Sadly, over 620,000 soldiers died from combat, starvation and disease during the Civil War.

President Lincoln almost died himself on the battle fields going out to give confidence and

support to his men. He and his wife visited hospitals of the lame, dying and wounded.

Soldiers cried when they saw this President in person. These words stand out and ring

clear on this anniversary date of our Founding Fathers;

“Our Fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and

dedicated to the proposition that ALL men are created equal”. Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln also believed strongly in the power of God. “One nation under God,

with Liberty and justice for all.”

This was a man convinced he would and could and did do, as much as humanly possibly

to help his fellow man each and every day. He did not believe in giving in. Every day I

must not give in, or give up or give away any of my power! I will give it my best from this

day forward. After all, there is no one else on earth like me. I remember this, with Jesus

Christ by my side, I have the spiritual strength of steel.

Can I pray and give today my best, and not give in to doubt?

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“Real Miracle? Blog #230

What causes me to be so doubtful and frightened?

Am I worried and constantly anxious today?

Have I got any belief in unseen miracles?

Oftentimes I have woken up and wondered what in the world am I doing here? There isn’t

a person alive who hasn’t doubted something about themself one day or another. Yet life

goes on and I try hard to find meaning in everything I do each day. Amidst everything that

happens, confidence can be shaken. Amidst every confrontation, therein lies a

consequence. Amidst every decision a road is chosen. Faith can follow me, help me and

guide me only if I choose for this to happen. I have said before I believe in Jesus Christ. It

took so much pain and heartache for me to get where I am. So much has happened to

me to form my deep-faith belief. I hope to help others with my Blog and the information I

openly share here. After all, who doesn’t want to believe in a miracle? Who doesn’t want

to find “absolute faith in God? Who doesn’t want to believe a prayer goes out and CAN be

answered?

Today I talk about a coincidence leading to my deep faith without ever knowing this could

happen. During our honeymoon, my husband and I decided to do some touring in the

quaint old Santa Fe village where we were staying. One of the first places catching my

attention was the Loretta Chapel. Not just for the healings, which had taken place over the

years, but for what transpired within. One mystery cannot be answered to this day and

remains a Miracle of Belief. This is what happened within the Loretta Chapel in 1878 in

Santa Fe. The nuns were very pleased with the chapel that had just been constructed and

completed for their use. However, once it was completed the architect had died and there

were no plans to have a staircase built to the choir loft at the back of the chapel. Many

carpenters were called in, but they all came to the same conclusion, the chapel was just

too small for a staircase to be built. It would take up the entire inside of the small chapel

and would not allow for any other seating. The choir loft was twenty two feet above the

floor and to put a ladder in and ask the nuns in their long habits to climb this daily was too

dangerous and prohibited doing so. Therefore, the Sisters of the Loretta Chapel made a

nine day Novena Prayer to St. Joseph. He is the Patron Saint of Carpenters. On the ninth

and final day of the prayer, a stranger appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a

toolbox, looking for work. He told the sisters it would take some months to construct and he

must not be bothered while he was at work. Every day over the months, the Sisters

watched to see if the donkey was still there outside of the chapel. When they no longer

saw the donkey, they went into the chapel and were in awe of what they saw. They

searched for the carpenter who had completed this miracle entirely on his own, but to no

avail. The circular staircase stands today and has been called an architectural marvel.

The staircase makes two complete revolutions and has no middle support. The first step

appears to be floating entirely and has fascinated visitors and woodworkers from all over

the world for over a century. The entire weight of the staircase is supported entirely by the

bottom step with a connection to the choir loft. Most of all, the staircase is constructed

with wooden pegs instead of nails or any metal hardware. The wood that was used

appears to be of one continuous piece and is not native to any of the wood found in Santa

Fe or New Mexico. The carpenter, when he appeared, was carrying an open toolbox with a

hammer and a saw. This magnificent staircase appears to be floating on its own and

has exactly thirty three steps. This is the exact age of Jesus Christ when he died. The

Nuns believed the carpenter finished his work, completely on his own and vanished without

asking for any payment or leaving his name. Many believed that the carpenter was St.

Joseph, himself, having come in answer to the Sisters’ prayers. Regardless of any one

else’s beliefs, it is pretty hard to deny this miracle especially when it still resides today! This

truly is an example of an answer to prayer in 1878. If any one cares to go to Santa Fe, New

Mexico. There it stands. A real Miracle. One can see this incredible construction within the

Loretta Chapel, so be prepared to accept this miracle on the spot. There is an old saying

that goes like this, “If I say a prayer for my highest good and the highest good of those

concerned, my prayer is heard and answered”.

Can I take this moment and thank God for answering my prayer?

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“Chaotic Courage? Blog #229

Where does super human strength came from?

How do I get through my day, it looks overwhelming?

When will I accept I cannot find strength alone?

A few months back I was visiting someone who very strongly shared with me reasons of

why this person did not believe in Jesus Christ. They would not be raising their family to

know Jesus either. Instantly, I felt the need to say so many things, yet I remained quiet.

Rather, I decided I would plan my course of action and find many good reasons to write a

long letter of perfectly valid points to believe in Jesus Christ.

Contrary to what I just said, it is not easy to convince a die-hard agnostic or angry atheist

to convert immediately to Christianity. Why? Most of all because faith in Jesus Christ is

very personal. Blind Faith in the unseen takes “leaps of chaotic courage”. Prayers are not

always immediately answered. Life does not always work exactly the way in which we

want. People disappoint us, the unexpected happens, life lets us down.

It is human nature to want to justify, rationalize, turn my head in the only direction I want to

see. Fortunately, for those who have followed my Blog, I can tell you, I have been full circle.

I have believed, not believed and finally fully believed again. I know this, life without Jesus

Christ is emptier, duller, darker. There is no justifying why, it just truly is not completely

satisfying. Then there are the many stories of unexplainable acts of courage that no one

has answers to. Every day there are examples of super-human strength in people who

have not the faintest idea how they were able to do this.

One example lies in a man named Bob Renning. Bob stopped his car on a Minnesota

highway and saw a complete stranger, Mike Johannnis, trapped in a burning SUV that was

engulfed in flames. Without thinking, Bob was able to bend the car door open with his

bare hands! He was able to open it, remove the man trapped inside without anyone

burned, hurt or damaged in any way. Bob Renning was given super-human strength.

Afterward, Bob questioned how he was able to accomplish this feat.

Another story of super-human strength took place in 1982. Angela Cavallo of

Lawrenceville, Georgia, heard a loud crash outside her kitchen window. She ran outside to

see the car in which her son was working on, had collapsed with him underneath! She

knew her son, Tony, would die if she did not do something quickly. Angela was able to lift

the car weighing 3,730 pounds. She lifted it up and off of her son, Tony! Grabbing the rear

of the car, Angela hoisted over thirty seven hundred pounds up high enough for shocked

neighbors to slide jacks underneath and pull Tony out safely. Tony only suffered a few

bruises and went home from the hospital after two days! No one could physically explain

how Angela was able to perform such a courageous act of sheer determination. This

woman showed chaotic courage and as some called it, “hysterical strength”. A profound

miracle turned a driveway disaster into one of history’s most cited super fantastic feats. I

for one, know who gave her the strength to do the impossible. It was Jesus Christ.

Then there was the man named Tiny who was able to save his good buddy from Vietnam.

Steve was a helicopter pilot who had crashed nearby upside down in a pond. Steve was

trapped inside and being crushed by the helicopter. All at once Tiny was able to Lift the

helicopter long enough for others to pull Steve to safety. This insane feat of heroism was

all caught on tape by a reporter who was filming nearby. No one could explain this

extraordinary act of courage.

I could go on but while these deeds seem unbelievable, they all did happen. Plus there

are so many more unexplainable super-human stories of chaotic courage and

astounding strength. Today it is not hard to search the internet and find them. However,

therein lies the rub. One minute the story captivates an audience and the next second a

person is ready to justify, reason and rationalize why people can do the amazing things

they do. How did these hysterical stories of strength really occur? I for one am a believer,

so I believe all these events took place because miracles are all around us. Jesus is here.

HE wants us to call him, ask for him, believe in him. There is something so very

comforting in knowing confidently of an unseen presence around me. HE is guiding me,

here with me, protecting me. I see the most important part of my faith. I don’t have to do

it all alone anymore. In all of the above amazing rescues, faith is present in the unseen.

Faith goes a lot deeper than one sees. This is often the way faith is ignited. In an

unexpected bolt and twist of a second, a life is changed forever.

Can I trust in the unseen energy of Jesus to give me courage now?

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“Fix My Life!” Blog #228

If others hurt me, how do I talk to them?

Am I choosing drama to get through my life daily?

Why should I be the one to set things straight?

For most people, it is hard to understand that forgiveness is LOVE at it highest form. When

a person is a child, the naughty things that take place are forgiven right away. However

we act, whatever we say and whatever we do, as little people we are usually talked to,

disciplined and forgiven. After all, tiny people, children, are looking for answers in those

who care for them. Parents do not usually hold grudges. They carefully find a way to

teach their child the truth. We are ALL children of God. We need help daily.

I AM A CHILD OF GOD. GOD is waiting for me to learn my lessons daily.

Sometimes we wake up daily and the things we deal with seem even harder. Why is that?

When I can finally accept the “school of life” I go to is every day lessons that are given to

me to learn from. Whether it be my family, my friends, or any situation I encounter that

brings difficulty, this is because I AM THE ONE TO BE LEARNING. Where ever I am in life right

now, whoever I am living with right now, I have major lessons to learn. Perhaps there is a

family member who is emotionally abusive, perhaps there is a friend who has said hurtful

comments, perhaps there is a spouse who stands apart in darkness. These are the lessons

each of us is given with choices we have initially made. It is imperative I see my role in

learning my own daily lessons with a forgiving heart. When there is gossip, anger, hatred,

this is powerful stuff. Consequences come with every word I speak, every action I do and

every decision I make. There will always be people in life who refuse to to let go of the past.

People who refuse to grow and thrive on the daily drama of life.

I, for one, make a decision to let go of this unhealthy way of living. I seek healthy

relationships. My own life puts me in a giant classroom with prayer to start and guide my

day. I go forward and decide to judge no one because I am filling my heart with

forgiveness. Therefore I let go of all anger today.

I wrote a poem that fits this moment precisely.

“ANGER”

Anger swells in the heart of thee, buried inside a big Black Sea,

Dismal dark voices, rich with menace give few choices where anger is endless.

On goes Anger in a deadly spin, Mr. Anger assures a wicked win -

takes over with rampant rage. brings in bruising blame, demanding center stage.

Never ready to depart, destroying all goodness in a loving peaceful heart.

Hiding out is quiet, forgiving self, sitting high on a dusty shelf.

At once is felt a timeless prayer, always waiting patiently there.

Suddenly sweeping in comes Jesus Angelic Diadem

crushing Angers deadly sin, a forlorn face did not give in!

This powerful force now gives chase, self love and forgiveness are back,

‍Destroying all anger in its track. Gone in a puff of smoke, this soul is now set free

Angels bravely sing to Thee, Herein lies the light of Christ’s Humility.

by: Bridget’s Mom

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“Never Give Up!” Blog #227

What inner gift do I wake up to this morning?

How can I saddle my thoughts into strength of purpose?

Where do I find super energy that pushes me forward?

Once in a while something happens that leaves an indelible mark on the way a life

chooses to live. Do I believe in miracles? Absolutely. Do I believe I have a Guardian Angel?

Absolutely. Do I believe Jesus hears every one of my prayers? Most certainly! Physical

pain, fear of what to do next and crippling set backs are three of the most dire reasons for

finding ones faith. Why is this? God wants our attention. HE is watching me. HE is

watching from a distance.

There is a man who once was an amazing Olympic runner and then decided to go into the

Air Force. Sometime during WWII he was a bombardier, and while on a mission, had his

plane blow up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Although this man was wrapped in a

hundred chords, he somehow broke free and was able to be afloat on a life raft on the

ocean drifting out at sea for 47 days and nights. While at sea there was a great white

shark and many other sharks that were circling his raft. During this time at sea he survived

by eating part of a four foot shark that he killed with his own hands. After making it to an

island he was rescued only to be imprisoned by the Japanese. Tortured and interrogated,

he tried to find a way just to survive. The Japanese knew that this man was an Olympic

Runner and because of this they chose to be even more cruel and beat him daily. Most

times this would leave him unconscious. He lost close to one hundred pounds but never

gave up. Louis Zamperini was an amazing man who went on to live to be 97 years old.

There is a movie made about his life called “Unbroken”. This true story not only shows

Louie’s courage, conviction but his unbelievable faith. When interviewed, Louie said, “there

was a time when I was tormented by my torturer, “The Bird”. It was so difficult to let go of

the darkness and the fear and the anger inside of me. So my depression and my

alcoholism just took over.”

Louie said the post-war nightmares caused his life to crumble. It got so bad his wife

wanted to divorce him. Louis’ wife invited Louis to listen to Billy Graham and then go see

him. This is when Louie, himself, had a confrontation with Christ. It was at that point he

remembered being on the raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and crying out, “God,

spare my life through the war, and I will seek You and serve You”. Then suddenly Louie felt

the need to forgive all the Japanese guards and the cruel torturing Guard “Bird” who had

inflicted so much pain on him. Writing this man a letter of forgiveness came next. He

swore he would hold no hatred within him for any one. he would never give up or give in,

but rather gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1949. Louis Zamperini said, “I grew up always

wanting to get even, now I have committed my life to Christ, feeling fulfilled I will never give

up”.

This is a true story of a man who remarkably lived a life of incredible challenge and set

back, no matter what happened to him. He never gave up. Jesus wants to know my

heart. HE knows who I am now. For HE always loves me. So, today, there is no reason to

give up on what I am trying to accomplish, no matter how far down the road I have to go.

The timing is not in my hands. Every day of my life is a process of evolving into what I am

willing to accept, God wants me to do now. Awakened, I no longer say “It doesn’t

matter” because I matter and therefore I will never give up!

Can I find Jesus in my heart today and never give up trying?

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“Sheer Willpower” Blog #226

Is it hard to find joy because I’m still angry about yesterday?

Can I avoid temptation even when I know its not any good?

How do I find a new way to stop habits that negatively consume me?

My greatest temptation is ME. I am in control of what I think, what I see, what I eat and who

I associate with twenty four hours a day. Only me, myself and I am the boss of me. So

completely in charge of who I am, am I. I must try to see that the primary structure in

shaping my human behavior is my own “AGENCY”. In simple terms, “Agency is the

capacity of an individual to act independently and to make one’s own free choices”. I

must want to learn to love myself.

There is a man out there that almost every person around knows who he is. Because I do

not choose to get into a political discussion, I leave his name out of this. For this only has

to do with a choice he made for himself and his family and children many years ago. This

man decided he would not indulge in three life choices, for as long as he is to be alive. He

has turned his back on cigarettes, drugs and liquor. He told his children as long as they

are alive and want his support, he would ONLY support their lifestyles knowing they also

turn their back on cigarettes, drugs, and liquor. Now forty years into his children’s children

becoming adults, not a single person in this mans family or extended family has any use

for alcohol, drugs or cigarettes. This man watched in horror as his favorite brother died at

a young age riddled with alcoholism. My own father died at the ripe old age of 52

consumed with drinking and died riddled with cancer. Therefore, negative choices do not

dictate to me any longer. I will look for a way into good health, it’s my decision. So,

Agency - gives me permission to do it MY OWN WAY.

Something that is very important, and goes hand in hand with AGENCY, is STRUCTURE. This

structure is a pattern that influences or limits my choices daily. I still must continue to

learn to love myself unconditionally. Here is an important question for myself today:

How do I structure my daily life?

There is a wonderful man who is alive today and has outlived most of his lifetime friends.

At 69 he was given months to live because of colon cancer eating up his body. He

changed totally. Twenty seven years later we see a different person. In 2018, Mike Fremont

said, “the reason I continue to race canoes and run long distances at age 96 is because I

can!” Mike is convinced the diet he eats which is basically plant based and vegan, has

given him so many more healthy years of living. Lots of fresh vegetables has helped him

find a reason to keep going. A healthy man with an active lifestyle. Mike has continued

over the years to have structure and will power to do the right thing for his body day in and

day out. My clock is ticking…. what am I doing with this hour? Here’s Mike Fremont still very

active and living with his wife Marilyn. Want to know what Mikes age is now? Mike is 104

years young today. You can look him up on the internet and see with your own eyes.

Change can take place for me this minute. Believing in his own strong will power, he

continues to eat healthy and live peacefully. He also stated because of his determined

mindset, he wants to help others. Kindness is an important factor of my longevity he

states. “Yet, the most important thing in my life though, is love. I try to remember that-

so turn off the TV and the computer and exercise your mind with a good book, you will

be just fine”.

So my takeaway from all this is “I will be courageous and believe God is helping me.” I can

do what I put my mind to do. I must be brave today as I see myself structuring this new

day with higher self thought, good healthy food and a new book! Always I rely on a close

relationship with my creator; Jesus Christ my Lord.

With sheer will power, can I begin to heal my body to its highest health?

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“Impossible: My Mission?” Blog #225

Does my life throw me impossible curve balls, too hard to catch?

Am I searching for daily satisfaction with what kind of reward?

Has routine filled each hour of my day with what IS possible?

WHAT IF…..before I got to earth, I knew my mission. “Your Mission, should you choose to

accept it: IS to see everything you are to go through while on earth. and ACCEPT that

mission” . I truly wonder how many of us would jump right in and say, “Yes, I am ready”.

However, there is ONE person who did exactly that. HE knew what was ahead of him

before he ever got here. HE knew who would betray Him, who would lie to him and who

would deceive Him and yet, HE STILL jumped right in. The pain and suffering each of us go

through in our darkest nights does bring the brightest light of spiritual wisdom into full view.

I believe each of us continue to have a mission to fulfill the entire time we are alive on this

earth. Each day, if I ask for discipline, detachment and discernment, I am given a chance

to see my mission - one day at a time. Sometimes it is is that family member who can

really challenge me. Sometime it is in a person I hardly know. Other times it can be a

situation that is suddenly created in a daily obstacle that can make me come unglued.

There is ONE person who was given a Mission Impossible and HE completely fulfilled it.

“He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant teen age girl. He grew up in

another village where he worked as a carpenter until he was thirty. Then for three years he

was an itinerant preacher. He never got married or owned a home. He never held a job, or

paid taxes. He never set foot inside a metropolis. He never traveled two hundred miles

from the place where he was born. He never wrote a book, or held office. He did none of

the things that accompany greatness in life. He received no award, no medals, no prizes

from his peers. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against

Him. His friends deserted him, He was turned over to His enemies and went through the

mockery of a trial. He had no lawyers, no friendly juries, no fair hearing. He was nailed to a

cross between two thieves. While he was dying, His executioners gambled for the only

piece of property He had, his cloak. After He died, He was taken down and laid in a

borrowed grave. Those who stood watch could not ever explain His disappearance, AND

yet two thousand years have come and gone, and today HE is still the central figure for

most of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed

and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put them all

together, and they have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this

“One Solitary Life”. The short lived life of HE who truly loved his fellow man unconditionally,

Jesus Christ (by Jim Bishop) For it was HE who achieved Mission Impossible and is still

with each of us today. He left us each with the Holy Spirit internally to help in time of

weakness.

Can I Help show others HIS truth and share HIS message of love?

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“Young at Heart” Blog #224

Do I somehow get my heart broken too easily?

Are thoughts racing down a track with no way back?

Can my heart be at peace and accept me?

Did you know that Albert Einstein did not speak at all for the first three years of his life?

Finally in school he could speak. Even though he got good grades, his teachers thought

him to be lazy, uncaring, shiftless. Albert Einstein was always distracted by abstract

concepts. It was hard for him to be accepted, the teachers at school did not believe in

him. Many adults around his learning world of education did not show any confidence in

who he could become. However this is quite astounding, Albert Einstein rose over and

above all the negativity around him to develop the Theory of Relativity. Who would ever

believe this was true? Albert Einstein is often called the “Father of Modern Physics”. One

might ask, “What is the theory of relativity? In simple words, the theory of relativity

transformed our understanding of space, time and gravity! Just a couple of additional

pointers, he discovered the speed of light in a vacuum is constant.

Albert Einstein published The Theory of Relativity in 1915. This wise man used his thinking

processes to come up with “thought experiments”, such as imagining an observer free

falling in an elevator, to help develop his theory.

Albert Einsteins theories provided a deep understanding of the fundamental nature of the

universe. This is a man who won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He was also deeply religious

and knew in his heart, unconditionally, who made this world and everything in it. HIs legacy

has inspired and challenged scientists for over a hundred years. Imagine IF he had

listened to any of those teachers who thought him to be “lazy, shiftless and uncaring? At

the end of Albert Einstens'‘ life he was a believer. He believed that God is a comprehensible

mystery. He had nothing but awe when he observed Gods’ world of nature and the laws of

nature. Albert said, “there cannot be laws without a lawgiver”. Then he states” religion

is necessary for science to exist. A person’s intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the

rational mind is a faithful servant of God”. He accepted Jesus of Nazareth was a real

person. He ended his life believing this, “no one can read the Gospels without actually

feeling the presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in HIS every word”.

Isn’t it fascinating how everything that goes around, comes around? Even Albert Einstein

who started his life believing in God and then challenged his own beliefs, came full circle to

see and believe there can be no science with out God. He said, “I searched for an escape

from my seemingly hopeless and demoralizing chase after ones desires, indeed I found

within myself a deep religiosity, a religious paradise”.

One morning I woke up and was filled with sadness, despair and worry for a family

member who I had no way of physically helping. I tried to let it go as I prayed and then I

became acutely aware that “God helps those who help themself”. This family member

was stuck beyond any measure of understanding. So what did I still do? I prayed. I prayed

and prayed again. Then I turned on the radio and this song I share today.

Can I believe my heart is healing, regardless of what I go through?

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“Unreal Strength” Blog #223

How do I face today with so little strength inside of me?

When am I able to let my body, mind and spirit fill with truth?

Where can I find energy today to be strong right now?

Once in a while something happens that we can’t really explain the why or the reason or

the purpose, we just know inside that something unexplainable is happening to help shift

gears. We have power so strong, that nothing can disturb our peace of mind. What ever

do I mean by that statement?

A long time ago there was a little girl born Into a very poor family in London. They were so

poor, the mother and the father had no way to feed or care for their family. The little girl

was not yet ten and took care of her three youngest siblings, as best as as she could. Yet,

the parents being so destitute and also a bit deranged, decided to do the unthinkable.

They abandoned all four children and left them alone, locked away in their home. When

the authorities finally came a few days later, the emaciated little children were sent off to

different families. The little girl, never saw her siblings again. A dark shadow descended on

her and she was filled with sadness and overpowering anger at what her parents had

done. Through her teen years, this girl earned a living on the streets and even spent a time

in the work house. Somehow, in the midst of all her anger, fear and weakness, she

managed to listen to her inner higher self guidance and turn overwhelming anger into

super spiritual strength. For this is the true story of Joan Rhodes. Joan had a 22 inch waist

line, long flowing blonde hair, petite and quiet, she looked like Marilyn Monroe. Joan

Rhodes found her way into stardom, notoriety and even an audience with the Queen of

England and Prince Phillip at Windsor Castle, all because of her Super Unreal Strength. She

conquered fear and made intense anger work for her in the strangest way. She became

very strong. Leaving audiences speechless, she was able to bend a steel bar with her

teeth, rip large phone books into quarters and lift huge men two or three at a time. Joan

managed to find a super unreal strength that she forged out of a desperation just to

survive. People who met her could not explain how she was able to do the feats she

accomplished. Famous celebrities from all over the world came to know of Joan’s

strength. When looking at this lovely, slim woman, so beautiful, so kind, Joan Rhodes

became the “Iron Girl in a velvet glove” ** ( her book also by this title) Everyone,

everywhere were astounded by this kind of strength. “Joan believed she could, and she

did.” Her life took a powerful turn and she never, ever looked back. She lived to be almost

ninety.

I know what it’s like to keep plugging along, day in and day out, in complete sorrow. Trying

to make the same old routine work over and over. The past trying to sneak in, fill me with

rage and trip me up. But then it happens, a prayer is heard, immediately I feel heard. I

sense HIS presence. So what keeps me internally connected? I look back at my own life

and as God as my witness, I do not lie. Had anyone told me I would be witness to such

horrific loss, such upheaval, such pain, there’s no way I think I could survive. Yet, here I am.

I keep on keeping on, and ironically, have come to feel a spiritual strength inside me,

growing strong as steel. Inside and outside I am different now. “I AM in this world, BUT

not of this world”. Jesus Christ walks with me every day, holding my hand. Kind of like

looking at the world through a television set. I can change the channel, I can look at

whatever I want. Better still - I can turn it off, and turn to HIM. Really quite profound how

amazing to be able to sleep soundly now, tune out all the background noise and just be at

peace. Reaffirming internally whatever happens, I will find a way forward. There will never

be a better choice. Others around me are exactly where they should be, it is not up to me

to control any one else’s path. Keep working on “me” is my goal, finding unreal strength of

spiritual steel.

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“Secular or What?” Blog #222

Do I live in a secular world and not know what it is?

Are there choices between the secular world and spirit world?

Why should it matter when I have gone this far already?

It’s important to define Secular World: “not subject to religious rule, trending over a long

period of time…no religious or spiritual basis”.

The difference between living in a secular world versus a spiritual world lies in the focus of

what is important to a person and what are their activities? Living in a secular world

means being focused on whats in the world around me. Living in a spiritual world means

to be in search with ultimate meaning, purpose and personal growth in ones’ life. This also

means to believe in a higher power (Jesus/God) and have a specific religious practice.

There have. been study after study on findings for depression, anxiety and fear. One of the

latest research studies found that the power of spiritual practice on a person’s well-being;

therefore, decreases anxiety, depression and controls their impulses for addictive

behaviors.

I find this fascinating when looking at the opposite secular world belief system.

Interestingly enough, it takes tremendous mind control to practice mindfulness and yoga

and various calming chants. Not to say, this can be helpful for a person to find the means

to slow the thinking processes down and unwind and relax. However, therein lies the rub -

we are a people world. The majority of most people like to be around other people. When

I am alone, I tend to focus on my failings and what I didn’t do right and on and on. This is

only normal. However, loneliness is a big contributor to depression, anxiety and sadness.

What brings balance?

Recently, I spoke with good friends who had just finished traveling all over the world. They

came home not just tired but filled with “nothingness” as my one friend would say, “and a

sort of sad emptiness”. I questioned her further to hear this remark, “When your travels

take you everywhere looking for something special to bring you peace inside and you

don’t find it anywhere…..what is left?” I was sad to hear this. Knowing she and her family for

years, somehow we had never bridged the conversation about Christianity. I asked her at

this point if she believed in Jesus Christ? She answered with this, “whatever for?”

I started thinking about the secular world versus the spiritual world and the difference is

night and day. To be IN the world, but not OF the world - is my true purpose in life. I am a

spiritual being with a strong Christian faith. My life has come full circle. The spiritual piece

is what I live for and everything else is just “part of the daily dressing”.

Not believe in Jesus Christ? Not have a spiritual network to reside in? Not being a

Christian? This is like carefully preparing the best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe your

Grandma had passed down to you, and then putting them in the oven, only to realize you

forgot the sugar! We live in a world with all the trappings, all the materials wants a person

could have, but it will never be enough to satisfy a “Hungry Soul”

Can I leave behind the secular world and embrace the spiritual world with Jesus?

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“Angel Unexpected” Blog #221

Do I believe in Angels?

Has my life been tested to show me they exist?

Are there many angel stories out there to believe in?

Immediately on thinking about this, I started doing my own research and came up with

some amazing information. Graham Tomlin is the Editor in Chief of Seen and Unseen and

the former Bishop of Kennsington. He wrote about deciding to talk about angels and how

many people had shared their true stories with him. He shared a remarkable story about

a soldier friend of his in the Army. The soldier was on a steep climbing expedition in Mount

Kenya. One of his team members had fallen to his death from a sheer rock face. Now, he

himself, was stuck on the ledge, unable to move up or down. He became paralyzed with

fear and frustration. He was in an inaccessible part of the world where they had seen no

one for days. His friend had been on this mountain where he and his friend were the only

group present. Then suddenly a climber appeared out of nowhere. The climber moved

onto the ledge where his friend was standing. Then the climber tied a rope tightly, into his

friends harness, lowering him down the rock face very slowly, finally they reached the

bottom safely. Instantly his friend looked over and the climber had literally disappeared

up the face of the mountain, never to be seen again. Over 70% of all the people in the U.S.

believe in Angels. Many of these people have shared some unbelievable stories.

I believe “seeing” an angel, gives a person a change of heart. Now they have the chance

to “see for themself” the unseen world that really DOES exist. Angels turn up when there is

something URGENT to be aware of. What would be really important to be aware of? That

angels are life-changing. A being becomes changed from disenchanted, unbelieving,

unaccepting to completely awakened in a breath! An angel experience is extraordinary,

out of this world, and never to be forgotten.

Perfect timing to reflect back on something I have always believed in. I am convinced

every one of us has a Guardian Angel. We were given our Guardian Angel when we were

born and they stay right with us to help watch over us all through our life. If a person

wants to know the name of their own Guardian Angel, they have only to sit quietly with

closed eyes and ask internally, “what is my Guardian Angels name?” Very quietly the

name will be presented. Years ago I was going through a lot of pain fear and heartache.

I will say there were a lot of times I just plain felt sorry for myself. One day a friend of mine

wanted to give me a little gift and got me tickets to see a powerful and renowned

speaker who had come to town. I went early because I knew there would be thousands of

people attending. Even so, I was hardly able to find a seat. When it came time for

intermission, I decided I would just leave because my own schedule was packed with

appointments. Before I left, I happened to come face to face with a complete stranger.

Yet, he reached his hand out and smiled stating, “I hope you are enjoying yourself tonight

as much as I am.” I felt immediately torn and because I hesitated in answering him, he

went on. “You know, life comes and goes and we encounter so many life lessons along

the way. I for one, lost my wife and four daughters in our house fire. Yet, as much as I

miss them, I am so thankful for the lessons I have been given to learn from what

happened. Now you have a nice evening.”

“WHAT?” I thought. How could this gentle man come out of a crowd and talk to me so

randomly about dealing with grief, he did not know what happened tome. Yet, in an

instant his words were powerful. I felt a calm settle over me in such an angelic way! His

attitude and confidence and words were instantly healing. I wished he would have stayed

and kept talking, but he disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again. Angel?

Happenstance? Whatever?……. What matters is how I felt and how I changed and how I

incorporated what he shared with me so quickly into my own life,. This encounter made

me heal inside.

Can I sit quietly in prayer and ask who my Guardian Angel is?

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“Do I Like Me?” Blog #220

Do my actions and my thoughts push God away?

Am I just putting up with the life I now live?

How hard is it for me to have a good day?

The statement, “I am the sum total of all I think, act and do today”, is very true. So here’s

where it gets tricky. The life I currently live has all kinds of separate challenges. I must look

at this because here is where so much of my growth can take place. Family members

who are still here, family members who are deceased, incidents in the family I continue to

ignore. (What would JESUS do?) We are born into one family to learn major lessons of

forgiveness, growth and understanding. Then when we marry and have children, we bring

in a whole new bucket of lessons to learn from. Why? Because spiritual growth never

stops! I put myself into such a dilemma when I INSIST ON GOING LIFE ALONE.

WITH JESUS IN MY HEART, HE LEADS ME, GUIDES ME AND SHOWS ME THE WAY TODAY.

it is with my own actions I choose to either bring HIM in or push HIM away. I ask myself

today….. “Do I like me, the one I see in the mirror?”

There is a beautiful tribute written by a Christian Chaplain during World War II. He states:

“There are no atheists laying in wait in the foxholes of war”. If today were to be the last day

I am alive, my priorities quickly change. I must heal my heart of all anger.

Luke Tillmamn is a 5 year old pastor who went viral for baptizing his stuffed animals. He

has been on the Jennifer Hudson Show four separate times. How could a five year old

know what to say, let alone have confidence in himself to speak words so very healing to

the world? People from all over the world have been moved by Luke’s confidence in who

he is. He likes who he is because he knows he is a child of God. His enthusiastic spirit has

managed to literally turn people’s lives around. Known on line as the the “kid pastor”, he

was not only a pastor at five years old, but was named Motivational Speaker of the Year in

2024!

Then we go on go see fifteen year old Millie who was the Minehead Winner of the Premier

Unbelievable Youth Preaching Prize at the Spring Harvest last year. Millie spoke to an

overflowing crowd of people gathered to hear her inspiring words on “Who Am I” and

forgiveness. She came out on the stage speaking these words to a hushed audience,

“In order to be awed and awakened by God, we need to put ourselves in situations where

we will encounter God and be present and BE with Him. For its in the busyness of my life

that I distract myself and create a barrier between me and God. Do I really need to spend

another hour of doom scrolling on social media? Or is time better spent turning away

from screens and towards God? Whatever can I do to learn to “Like me” more? I can listen

to Christian Music, take a walk in Gods nature and hear JESUS tell me how much I am liked

and loved. These are the gateways to Godliness.

All the barriers are broken when I SEE Its all in my head. These barriers are bricks. Bricks

upon bricks of “Whatifs”, deflecting WHO I really am. How can I hear the truth-filled words

“Yes, I LIKE me”, until I quiet the noise within. As I breathe in, Jesus changes the voice of

unbelief and suddenly I hear,

I AM strong, I AM brave, I AM enough”. Millie goes on to say, “forgiving myself for all my

anger is a deliberate choice to let it all go - like dropping a heavy bag - and now

walking in peace..”

Can I take the first step to liking me and let Jesus do the rest?

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“Defy Depression!” Blog #219

Am I the sum total of all my experiences?

Do I admit I must learn from all past situations?

Can I say I am spiritually strong in the midst of my challenges?

Close to 70% of all Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Ironically, close to 70% of all

Americans are on prescription drugs right now. 62% of most Americans now claim to be

Christian. The average life span in the United States of America is 77.2 years old. Did you

know a recent study found people who regularly attend religious services live

approximately four years longer than the average person? Researchers built this study

from people who also go out and interact with other people, volunteer at their local

community and find ways to “stay active”. Depression cannot survive when I am trying

to help another person find joy. They also found there is a “unique benefit to going to

church” and church attendance which is hard to define. By being around a consistent

engagement of community of believers, this deepens our faith, enriches our soul and is

actually the real key to longevity.

Where am I going with these figures? Nothing gives me 100% assurance in my life that I

can live every day healthy, safe and financially secure. It is up to me to find a way to make

the best life I can. It is up to me to find a way out of any depression. It is up to me to find

my way to God, and to his son, Jesus Christ.

There is a myriad of band-aids out there for depression and anxiety and sadness. For the

most part, they are temporary. A pill must be replaced with another pill. An alcoholic drink

needs more. Relying on negative, codependent, “know it all” people is a means to an end.

Depression will lift when I am determined to lift my awareness to “higher self thinking”

right now. The spiritual steel armor of strength I am given is my belief in Jesus Christ

my Lord.

The following survey is fascinating. Researchers from Ohio State University studied 1500

newspaper obituaries first from Ohio and then from across the United States. They found

that people with documented religious affiliations lived up to 9.45 years longer than those

with no religious affiliation. This study also found that church goers have low rates of

alcohol and drug abuse” in addition. “Religious support and coping skills which help with

avoiding depression, are related to positive outcomes in mental health”

When and If I have time to sit around my home all day, think depressing thoughts, and give

in to my anxiety, I am fueling and feeding my own depression. I can defy depression with

the knowledge of all of the above. I am aware of how important it is to transfer the focus

away from my own depression and find a way to funnel light into the dark spectrum of

depressing thoughts. Then I go out and see who I can help!

By finding a church affiliation, I can find a community to relate to and go to on a weekly

basis. I am not meant to sit at home by myself and worry, fret and be depressed. It is my

responsibility to take care of myself in a healthy way. I have to admit I am the sum total of

my whole being - my mind, my body and my spirit. What feeds all three? Well, healthy

activities are an outcome of a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ who gives me the

answer, so then I am able to defy depression, one day at a time.

Can I defy my own depression with a new outlook on life today?

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“Can I Do It?” Blog #218

How CAN I turn my life into a positive channel?

Where do I instantly find a place to start at?

Why won’t doors open when I need fixing?

I look at my own life, where I am at right now. No matter what I shared with you in the past,

if I had one fact to share now - it is this - TODAY I START OVER AND I CAN DO IT. Nothing in

my past will prevent me from this because my past is only there to teach me. I believe

Jesus Christ came to earth to show me HE is God. The fact is Holy Week brings something

powerful to mind and must be shared.

My family is mine to learn powerful lessons from. I may love or hate my family around me.

This is my choice. However, Jesus left us many platitudes to learn how to live from. He

said, “Pray for those who persecute me” Love my enemies” and “Forgive them for they

know not what they do”. Look how powerful, freeing and enlightening these words are.

Hearing all this before, I always inserted the words “but…,” in there. “But no one understand

what this person did to me…..” Jesus knows exactly what I have been through. He stills

says, “Forgive and move on.” Years and years of holding onto anger, resentment and

bitterness does NOT create healthy internal growth. Jesus came to earth as “God in

person”. He showed us through all the years He was with his disciples and miracles he did

one after another. He lived the life and showed us how life and all the people around us,

can let us down! His disciples turned on him, a closer disciple denied him three times.

Then there was the disciple Judas who sold his soul for thirty pieces of silver, and at the

end, hung himself because he could not bare to live. Yet, at the end of his tortured life,

hanging on a cross, He spoke these words,

“FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” This Easter, He asks us to

do the same thing. Can I do it? Can I forgive anyone who has hurt me, period? How can

I by myself give back to those around me and do something good?

There was a young man who walked away from a formal education. Yet this young man

had a dream about sharing his knowledge of Jesus Christ. He started at 18 years old and

founded an organization called Turning Point USA. This began with no money and no

connections, and grew into one of the largest conservative youth organizations in the

entire country. There are chapters on thousands of campuses and revenues approaching

100 million dollars. Now the organization has expanded into Turning Point Action and

Turning Point Faith. In the midst of all his work and travel and witnessing for our Lord, he

had written ten books. His last book is called, ”Stop in the Name of God (why honoring the

sabbath will transform your life)”. The president of the United States honored him with the

nations highest honor - The Medal of Freedom. His name is Charlie Kirk. Charlie loved to

go and speak and debate on college campuses. He spoke about God and truth and living

life at its fullest.

On September 10th, 2025, thirty one year old Charlie Kirk was on an “America Comeback

Tour” and had just arrived at a college event at Utah Valley University to speak about truth

in every facet of our life. He was not afraid to face off about any subject of any kind. He

loved God and his wife and his two little children, and he was not afraid to die.

At 12:33 p.m. MT While answering audience questions, Charlie Kirk was struck with a single

gunshot bullet to the neck and slumped over, dead in front of three thousand college

students. This is a young man who lived his life to its very fullest.

Can I start today, accept all the lessons through peoples behavior and more than that

have been given to me, and forgive them? Can I do it?

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“Tough Teacher?” Blog #217

How do I learn any of my lessons now?

Why is it important to “learn lessons” as a person?

Aren’t I in charge of my life to learn whatever I want?

I believe the hardest part of living life is to accept the consequences of my poor choices

and decisions. I now accept, and take responsibility for me - I start today. No such thing

as blame in my life. I choose to learn and grow internally. Every single day I can start over,

Jesus is teaching me daily. Choosing wisely, looking at where I am, my life is guided now.

My past is teaching me…..that makes all the difference.

Relative people in my own family to learn lessons from; there is a “boatload of lessons”

here. My mother married an abusive alcoholic who never stopped destroying his life and

hers. She quit living in darkness when her life came to an abrupt end as she was killed by

the drug addict in her own family. My own brother witnessed horrible abuse, parents who

failed him in his darkness. My Mother, My father, my brother- all gave in to weakness,

alcohol and drugs. Nothing to make light of - lives ruined and gone because of

weakness.. How many of us try to fix family members? Then when we can’t, turn our back

and move on. Do we remove them from our lives? Where does all the hurt go anyway?

The best answer for me is this, I work on myself first. I will not judge anyone, anywhere,

anymore. I will not blame. I will not gossip. I will bless all my family members and leave

their life as they choose me to be in it. I will guard my words and teach myself to “see the

lessons I AM given to learn from” in my own family. I must LOOK AT MYSELF IF A FAMILY

MEMBER TURNS THEIR BACK ON ME. What is it about me that is abrasive? Sometimes it takes

a lifetime to learn these lessons, so I go easy on myself. My lessons are dealt to me first by

seeing others with forgiveness. “There but for the grace of God, Go I”. Another big lesson

to learn from is this, in MY childhood and beyond, I became a “caretaker”. This became

hard on me and took so much of myself away… just not possible to change other people

so, I decided to “be the change”. It’s tough teaching what’s right to oneself. I slowly am

learning how to become a “caregiver”. Interestingly enough, a “caretaker” is a person who

“takes charge of another persons life. A “caregiver” is a person who provides support and

spiritual care for another person’s life. The first one becomes messy, I choose the second

one, I want to be a “caregiver”. A persons will is very strong. If we each only knew how

strong our will is! We each have Free Will. I now use my Free Will to make healthy choices

for myself. I see the tough teacher inside me and want to learn from her. My will is to be

open to Jesus’ light shining throughout me. As light shines, cobwebs are removed.

GOD specifically said HE would NOT interfere with our own FREE WILL.

I use my Free Will to invite Jesus Christ into my heart and soul and mind today. So today I

wind down my blog in stating grief and sadness have no partiality when it comes to

money or fame or people. There is a world renowned woman who has definitely bore

quietly her share of tragedy. She has lost her father to murder, her mother to cancer and

her only brother and sister in law in a plane crash. Yet she is married and quietly living on

the east coast with her husband. She has had two daughters and one son. She is a

lawyer, politician, diplomat, author, wife and mother. Most recently over this past year

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg was told her eldest daughter Tatiana had cancer, she died

before the end of the year. She left behind two little grandchildren for Caroline to

remember her with. Some people may say, when is “enough enough?” How much grief

can one family be given? And yet we look at Caroline Kennedy’s grandmother Rose. She

had nine children and was a good, religious woman. She lost her eldest son in a plane

crash, her next daughter was killed in a plane crash, and John F. Kennedy, our president,

was killed by an assassins bullet. Then her son, Robert Kennedy, was also assassinated

and left behind a grieving widow with ten children. Almost half of all Roses’ children gone

before her. Yet, she continued to be a devout Catholic until she died at 104 years old.

None of us know how or when we will leave this earth. I now know this, life is not good if I

am weak, alcoholic or drug addicted. My Life is filled with Jesus Christ energy. Jesus is my

only tough-love teacher.

Can I find courage to accept the tough teacher in my life today?

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“Know Myself?” Blog #216

What is my internal worth?

Where do I learn to see my limitations?

How can I believe in who I truly am?

So to start my day (after prayer, breakfast and deep breathing) I ask myself this, Today - is

my glass half full or half empty? (glass means positive thinking inside mind)

Often it is easy to wake up in the morning with worry, disappointment and fear in ones

mind. How I decide for positive thinking directly affects my outlook on life! It can easily

affect my health as well. Am I an optimist? Or, am I a pessimist? These personality traits

not only affect my health daily, but what I choose to do, where I choose to go and WHO I

want to be with! It’s okay to internally talk to myself and stream some healthy information

into my brain right away as I awake. Perhaps it is helpful to put something by my bed that

I can wake up to read.

This statement has shown amazing results in people who started to try it for 30 days in a

row, “Today I look forward to one of the best days I can remember”.

Just learning to replace my glass that was “half empty” with “half full” positive thought

process, works. Once again I quote researchers who show the benefits of Positive Thinking

with the following outcome…

increased life span - lower rates of depression - lower levels of distress and pain -

much greater resistance to illness - better cardiovascular health - reduced risk of

health from stroke - respiratory conditions - cancer - and very important -

BETTER COPING SKILLS DURING HARDSHIP IN TIMES OF STRESS

No one person can know me better than I know myself ! If I have a tightness in my chest,

if I’m biting my lip, biting at my fingernails, headachy, shallow breath, my body feels the

tension and this is not good! Just sitting still with ten or more deep breaths, quiets myself

to know myself - I pray internally, “Thank you for helping me to know myself, Jesus”. An

ironic thought is this, smoking, drinking, junk food, overuse of internet, no exercise,

negative people around me = will poison my thought process.

It is up to me to start learning about me - quietly and consistently - Do I know myself?

Now I start the internal cleansing to dig out the dirt, see the damage and heal myself.

Two words come to mind = PRIDE and HUMILITY

Am I humble? Am I prideful? Here’s how to check PRIDE. Pride is a condition of the heart

where a person becomes self-righteous, superior to their own spiritual walk, above others.

Do I have a desire to be independent of God?

Humility - Spiritual Humility “A fundamental virtue in Christianity. Humility is characterized

by a recognition of ones own weaknesses and dependence on God. A modest view of

ones importance and a willingness to submit to Gods Will. HUMILITY is actually the secret

sauce to make me more loving, aware and see others “through Jesus eyes”. I pray daily

for this. WANTING TO HELP OTHERS. HUMILITY IS NOT THINKING LESS OF MYSELF - HUMILITY IS

THINKING ABOUT MYSELF LESS.

MOTHER TERESA was an Albanian, Indian Catholic nun who lived and worked with the Leper

Colonies in India. In 1979 she was given the Nobel Peace Prize for all she did for the sick, the

homeless and the poor. She was being interviewed by a reporter and he asked her, “What

do you say when you pray to God?” Mother Teresa smiled and turned knowingly to the

Reporter, “When you pray, you don’t have to say much - just listen. Then try to help one

person at a time”.

Can I sit quietly now and listen for the words to help me know myself?

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“Falling Fast?” Blog #215

What gives me strength to get up and start my day?

With all the news media blitz, friend and foe - what do I fall for?

Where is stability I garnish to invisibly hold me in place?

I read somewhere a while back, that a dream of falling can indicate the dreamer feels

unstable, overwhelmed, fearful and/or insecure about something in their life. It may also

indicate an anxiety disorder or unresolved trauma. A dream of flying may mean there is

an out of control situation going on in my life that I don’t know how to solve. Falling or

flying in dreams, I get to at least wake up from! Yet, in the day to day struggle of figuring

things out, what AM I falling for really? There is my phone I can search, internet ads

spewing info, more garbage, and WHAT HAVE I FALLEN FOR?

Did you know 500 years ago a man named Michael DeMontaigne said, “my life has been

filled with terrible misfortune, most of which never happened!” There is actually a study

that proves this! The study looked into “how many of our imagined calamities that we fall

for mentally, never materialized”? Within this study participants were asked to write down

their worries over an extended period of time. They then were asked to identify which of

their “worries” never actually happened. The study on worries came back showing 85%

never happened! There are also multiple of studies showing 97% of all the worries flying

around in my head, are nothing more that a FEARFUL MIND FALLING FOR EXAGGERATIONS

AND MISCONCEPTIONS. I do have to stop and think about how different my life would be if I

did not fall for all the things I obsessively worried about over time. Over the years, I

eventually spent time trying to unlearn superstitions, fearful comments and “falling” for

other peoples convincing arguments of “doom and gloom”. My life would have been so

much more open to new positive possibilities, had I also only applied the faith I have now

in Jesus Christ.

There was another study that took place at Penn State University. Researchers asked

people who had a “generalized anxiety disorder” to write down “everything they worried

about” for one whole month. After all the outcomes were written down and turned in, at

the end of the month, researchers found 91% of all participants worries did NOT come true.

How much relief in hearing this does one feel?

Here’s another Important point, Falling for our anxiety ridden defeat thoughts and being

able to change, IS possible to heal from! Participants were told this, “not only did your

worries not come true, but after presented with the outcome, evidence and results,

researchers found these “worries were largely unfounded.” So many of the participants in

the study experienced immediate improvement in their anxiety symptoms over all. A win-

win for not falling for the illusion of exactly what it is - FALLING FAST with fearful worrying.

So now comes the good part. All of the above is a choice I make, every single day. I can

fall for worrying and fear of the unknown and let anxiety grab hold quickly, OR, I can speak

to myself as an old friend would, telling myself I have a weapon of spiritual steel growing

inside me now. What is it? Christ centered courage and my fail-safe protector. HE

keeps me from falling into worrisome patterns invading a safe place in my mind. I

visualize myself surrounded by an envelope of crystal clear white light of protection. No

more worrisome fear of falling fast for what is NOT there!

My inner dialogue with me is self love. I see myself encased in this envelope of loving light.

So the only conversation taking the place of worry is conversation with Christ. Even if it’s for

5 minutes first day. It’s okay. I can add more time each day. This helps eliminate

worrisome thoughts. If I think, “Oh I am so stupid for doing that”, immediately telling myself,

“That thought was part of the old me”. I now say, “I am smart, I am disciplined, I am

loving”. Therefore I believe I am Loved. I see myself in Christ Light. I listen to God.

Can I find my faith and turn my back on falling fast for worry?

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“Wasted Time?” Blog #214

Where do I spend most of my time all day long?

Do I have a sense of what my priorities are now?

Why do my choices of what I spend time on matter?

Here is a sobering thought, I can build up material possessions and own all the treasures

of the world. I can make a decision to travel here and there. But with my last breath. I will

be required to make a decision on how I spent my life. It will be shockingly evident then,

how I spent my time each and every day, my whole life long. Then, it’s too late, knowing

there are many days of own life where I felt and saw, so much wasted time. Self-willed

energy on silly, useless, mundane things. Better still, what are my habits and where do

they take me day in and day out?

Looking back at my own life, there was once a time years ago when my life had a sense of

meaninglessness. So much wasted time on mundane useless things caused me to take

on a belief, at whatever level, it wasn’t possible I could do anything to create value or

leave a lasting impact with what I could contribute in my life. I had not searched for a

relationship with my creator. Therefore, these feelings did not contribute to my well being.

These are “LOST FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS”. If not checked, they grow fast and furious. We

have all been there at one time or another. Because I can partner with my Lord Jesus

Christ, who brings in balance so desperately needed at times of sad thoughts and

depression. Again I strongly say, “Help Me Jesus” and I feel HIM now.

Did you know that any person can write a book about their life? one page at a time, one

day at a time? At the end of a year, 365 days make up a great book to read. Here is a

healthy place to spend time - learning about myself - Write a journal now.

Here are biggest Habits of Wasting Time on a Daily Basis:

1. Neglecting an obvious Obligation ( been putting it off and off)

2. Procrastination - Avoidance in doing a task, much needed to do.

3. Excessive Social Media Usage throughout the day - nothing to show for it.

4. Unnecessary phone calls to people with only Gossip intended.

5. Text messaging to and for unnecessary reasons.

6. Sitting and day dreaming for hours at a time.

The average person loses 26 days each year to wasted time”. John Anderer/London

John Anderer goes on to say that “the average adult finds themself with nothing to do at

least three (3) times a day”! This is due primarily to a. lack of motivation, or routine Another

fact to keep in mind, “wasting time” contributes to depression! Because wasting time

increases the risk of depression by blocking direct communication and lowering social

interactions. This reduces the available time to engage in physical activities that help to

prevent and treat depression to begin with. If I have nothing at all to do, I get up, go

outside, take in countless amounts of deep breaths and walk and walk and walk! Starting

small I learn to anchor my day with “must haves” 3 morning habits. Drink water, make my

bed, Stretch & pray. Then Identify 3 CORE TASKS DAILY: LISTS TO DO. LUNCH A MUST,

PERSONAL CARE INCLUSIONS. Under personal care: work out, reading, exercise, cooking,

movie, journaling.

This famous actor starred in more movies than I care to count. Yet when he wasn’t making

movies he was daily wasting time, doing drugs throughout his day. This was Hollywood’s

“Golden Boy” who saw a vision of his own death. He saw a white light, then had his own

encounter with God. All this happened after he had starred in so many movies including,

The Parent Trap, Midway, Reagan, Top Gun and many more. But wasting time on drugs all

day was teaching him this: “Drugs are fun, then they are fun with problems, then they are

just problems”. All the while, Dennis Quaid thought having Hollywood success meant

leaving God behind. Now Quaid has stopped doing drugs, stopped wasting precious time

and produces faith based movies like “I Can Only Imagine”. He went on to tell a

newscaster, “What we are all looking for is just the joy in life”. From nearly losing everything

to staying at the pinnacle of success, Dennis now states, “It’s all and only about our

relationship with God in the end”.

So I look at my own life today, simply put, I can take the time and pencil in ten minutes

more a day to find my own relationship with Jesus. This shows me I find more joy in my life

now. Nothing positive comes from spending time doing things that contribute to my being

depressed. So I end the Blog today on this note from Crosby, Stills & Nash,

“So much time to make up everywhere we turn, time we have wasted on the way….”

Rather than waste the moment, can I take the time to learn and pray?

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“Panic or Purpose?" Blog #213

What can I do to stop these racing thoughts inside me?

How can I find courage to face my inner self differently?

Is there a way to turn on the light inside me and find purpose?

This defines panic attack, “a sudden feeling of unwelcome, disabling, and disrupting

anxiety”. Then on to define “anxiety”, a feeling of worry, nervousness and unease. Panic

attacks are more prevalent than we realize. Every year thousands upon thousands of

people in the U.S. experience panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden intense feelings of

fear that cause fast breathing, racing heart and sweating. No one really knows why

people get them, yet we do know this, no person has ever died from a panic attack.

I shift gears for a moment to bring in something important here, “grounding”. What does

this mean? If you say someone is “grounded”, this means a person is sensible, reasonable,

and understands the importance of ordinary things in their life.” We live in a world that

idolizes the extraordinary. Yet, it is easy to overlook the beauty and the significance of one

ordinary life. Too often we try to do too much, outside of who we are. Sometimes we have

a “physical situation” happen In our life to bring clarity to “who we really are.”

I believe in panic attacks because I used to have them. They were frightening. Yet, I found

a way to deal with them and they never ever came back again. PRAYER. I faced my

demons head on. Breathing out anxiety, I prayed. “Help me Jesus”. My shallow fast,

fearful breathing slowed way down. Amazingly, after slow, deliberate, deep breaths. I was

able to hear these beautiful soft words, “You are loved”. Somebody might say I was

imagining this. Someone else could say those were your words. Yet I heard those words

loud and clear! “You are loved.”

There’s a famous singer out there who went through years of depression and heart ache.

One day she sat by her bed and was ready to end it all. Just as she was about to open the

drawer next to her bed and do something so horrific and regrettable, a miracle happened

right then! Her little dog came bounding up the stairs and jumped into her lap at that

exact moment. Fate? Coincidence? Perhaps. Dolly Parton believes it was the hand of

God who saved her life that night. And to this day she does not start her morning without

Jesus by her side.

Why does it take times of crisis to turn our hearts and minds to God? Because we are all

alike in one fact. So often we think we can handle things on our own. Of course, this is

where God promised every person has “Free Will” and because of this, God will never

meddle in our lives unless we want him to. So what happens when we do not know HOW

to handle anxiety, and fear of the unknown? Fear takes over our mind with a panic attack!!

No one person has the key to life regardless of who they are or what they achieve. At the

end of the day, it takes one word to over come panic, anxiety, and fear. That word is FAITH.

I have faith in Jesus Christ who is with me regardless of what I go through. I have heard

him speak to me, I have been witness to a miracle and I know there is no other way on

earth to live. Some people could say, “well, if I just had enough money to take care of all

my problems, I would be okay”. It’s not about the money, and we all know that.

Thousands of celebrities, including famous singers, actors, country stars, and talk show

hosts have all had deep, dark depression. Coupled with anxiety and panic attacks, they

confess heart wrenching stories of turning to Christianity. I know I had a life that seemed

idyllic once, everything in place until the unexpected tragedy hit. No one person really

knows how to go forward when depression, anxiety and panic comes. And no one is

prepared for the unexpected. Panic attacks come from internal fear, a feeling of

desperate aloneness and not being grounded. This is internal chaos. This is extremely

dangerous. This is living inside an empty vessel.

The heaviness in my heart is ONLY lifted with HIM. Most of us run daily just as fast as we

can trying to keep up with “the daily minutia”. Deep down inside, I knew now it was time to

“help myself heal from anxious panic”. It was finally time I embrace the light of Jesus to

grow, heal and ground me internally.

Can I let go of the illusion of panic and embrace my higher purpose now?

NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW