“Bad Moods?” Blog #200
Am I really ruled by these feelings inside of me?
Do I wake up to a new morning feeling depressed?
Can I find a way to stop being in a bad mood so often?
It’s important to understand my mind must be ruled by good, healthy, clean thoughts.
Discouragement, anger and self pity have got to go now! There is no place for bad
feelings in any part of my life. Taking a minute now, I see nowhere do I benefit from dark
thoughts, negative thinking and a bad mood. Not possible to sit here with a Pollyanna
approach and believe I can always stay uplifted. However, dark times of depressing
thoughts must be put to bay and only randomly occur. There is far too much to be
thankful for that outweighs negativity. Besides, the brain is very tricky, once I start thinking
depressing thoughts, they reoccur and come back with a vengeance! I can play a game
with myself and say there is always time to think about that “depressing thought later”.
Now I will START to “TRAIN MY BRAIN’’ to be in the positive.
When I go to Yoga Class I notice I gravitate over to sit by the one lady who is always
smiling. Not only does she have a wonderful look on her face, but when I speak to her, all
of her energy invites me in. There is plenty of time later to revisit the part of my life that is
worrisome. So just for today, I avoid this like the plague.
There was a famous movie years ago, actually one of my favorite movies of all time,
“Gone with the Wind”. The movie is about a beautiful young woman raised in the heart of
a Golden Age long gone by. A golden age of wealth and massive plantations and plenty.
The movie opens to a scene with Scarlett O’Hara preparing for a fabulous garden party,
oblivious to poverty and darkness and dread. For this movie is set on the back drop of the
beginning of the Civil War. The plantations are fabulous, the Southern Gentry is steep in
tradition and the slaves are everywhere doing the white man’s bidding. Sadly, the Civil
War takes it toll quickly on Scarlett, for she watches in horror as her own homestead is
ripped apart, her family dying and scattered and the love of her life is gone to war, yet and
not even in love with her! Bringing this movie to the forefront shows the unbearable pain,
misery and suffering heaped upon Scarlett. No sooner deals with one problem and a
greater one is set before her. However, as more persistent problems try to destroy
Scarlett’s life, a remarkable awareness comes into being. Scarlett faces the hardships of
war, head on. Horrific problems she encounters over and over again. Yet, they begin to
shape her character and visibly force her to make difficult honest decisions. The part of
the movie that’s stuck with me for fifty years is this, Scarlett does have pain, and darkness
and sadness all around her. Just like you and me. However, she FACES HER PAIN HEAD ON.
THEN SHE GOES ON. Internally,
“I go forward, there is no other way”.
When she realizes at the end of the movie who the love of her life truly is, he leaves her! Do
you know what Scarlett says as the movie is ending? (regarding all her pain)
“I will think about it tomorrow….After all tomorrow is another day.”
Knowing that I can tell my brain anything I want to, this is how I will deal with depression
and sadness and darkness. I will NOT think about it today. Just for today I will stay positive.
Putting my mind in a different direction; I say now, “Thank you Jesus for your help. Keep
me strong, spiritually connected to you, affirm your light is on me”.
It’s easier than one expects to redirect the mind into a different place - the awkward part
is we are used to that sneaky energy seeming to worry and depress our mind. Keeps us
stuck - it “appears hard to do” but it is not. In a breath, switch my mind. In a breath I get
up and go do something different, In a breath I open the door and invite in the fresh air
with deep breaths throughout my person. In those 60- 80,000 thoughts I think each day, I
bring in more optimistic thoughts. I feel so much stronger now. For I AM the ONLY ONE in a
position to do this for the “inner me”.
Will I take this moment and remove bad moods with Jesus help now?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW
“Living Defeated?” Blog #199
Doesn't matter how old I am, what are my inner goals?
Do I feel trapped with no way out of darkness today?
What lessons are trying to be taught to me now?
It came to me out of the blue one day, I was searching and trying to find a way to bring
peace into my life. I sat down, completely out of energy. I closed my eyes and prayed for
peace to come into my heart. When I opened my eyes, I felt very calm.
Looking back at worrisome thoughts, they are becoming less and less. I can focus on my
breath. Breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly. This is where I can have complete control
over my life right now. Sitting quietly with myself, teaches me so many important
awarenesses. Most of all, I am understanding my limits. No other person can give me “my
answers to what I internally must learn for myself”. Without acknowledging my body is the
temple of God, and praying unceasing for Jesus to be my guide, I am flying blind. Only HE
is my trouble teacher. So regardless of my age, old or young, happy or sad, troubled or
not, I must adhere to accepting my daily lessons that are given to me to learn each and
every day.
Even If I have not realized my own creative talents I have been given, I can smile today. I
can offer words of encouragement to someone nearby and I can try to give uplifting
words of support to those who are in need. Still remembering years ago, when my own life
caused me to only feel defeated, and completely lost to the darkness, a much needed
support guide taught me the most critical piece of awareness. “To get rid of ones’ own
heartache, go out and help someone who is hurting”. These wonderful words of truth gave
me not only a feeling of completeness, but an awakening to this prayer. “Dear Lord, grant
that I might seek not so much seek to be consoled, but to console. Thank you for
removing my despair and bringing me discipline, discernment and detachment from
all darkness.”
This true story is about a young 23 year old man who suffered horribly and was on the
brink of suicide. He had gone thru years of mental anguish and always felt unworthy.
Years of journeying through psychotic depression caused him to feel totally lost. One day
he reached out and risked going to a church to find help. He shared his struggles with a
new friend and together they prayed for his healing. He stated that together they ate, and
talked about problems and prayed for strength. As limiting as human beings are, church
people can be Gods blessing at a time of need. He didn’t stop there. This young man also
found a good counselor in his community to help him with past trauma and self esteem
issues. He learned new tools and tactics to cope with severe stress. Realizing now he was
not alone, helped him to reach out more. Internally he was learning how the devils most
effective weapon is discouragement. Discouragement brings on doubt. Discouragement
brings in despair and darkness. Above all, this young man learned to now set healthy
boundaries for himself, and healthy people to interact with in his real life struggles. More
than anything else,he became a believer in Jesus Christ. This young man turned to Jesus
for God’s grace. In my own life I see powerful awareness has came from the following
words,
“God has never left me. He is still taking care of me. He is still leading me and bringing me
through life’s journey. I need only to open the door when he knocks”. So today amidst
ongoing trials and tribulations I remember and recite this powerful prayer…
SERENITY PRAYER
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO
ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE,
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN,
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
Can I take this moment to reach out of my closed circle and seek spiritual help?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW
“Am I In Danger?” Blog #198
Do I implant dangerous thoughts into my brain daily?
Is my thinking standing in the way of my growing stronger?
Can I invite Healing, Strength and Power into my life NOW?
Did you know that between 60,000 - 80,000 thoughts (experts estimate) go through a
persons mind daily? Between 2500 to 3300 thoughts occur hourly. Some research
suggests that a large percentage of these thoughts are REPETITIVE. One report STATES
95% OF OUR THOUGHTS ARE THE SAME AS THE DAY BEFORE! THIS IS AMAZING. Now we might
wonder what about “Unpleasant thoughts, and negative thoughts? Depression and
anxiety and worry are rampant in the daily thinking of so many people. It doesn’t matter if
I go to sleep, wake up and start thinking the same worrisome thoughts, or negative
thoughts, or sad thoughts, day after day after day.
I WILL BECOME WHAT I THINK! How is it possible to change to positive thinking? With our
thoughts and words, we can bless ourselves or curse ourselves every day. The very first
thing I must understand about me is this - Romans 8:6 “The mind governed by the flesh
is weak, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace”. Very easy, day after day,
to feel sorry for myself. When I get into a pattern of constant negativity, it will only grow.
Unbelievable how this can happen. If I watch shows that are dark and depressing, they
take hold inside of me. If I listen to sad, depressing songs, they take hold of me. If I
interact with people who are sad day in and day out, I BECOME SAD, SAD, SAD. I must
exercise my mind. It’s vital to have positive, uplifting, courageous people in my life. People
who I interact with should bring me up, ,make me laugh and encourage me in a positive
manner. If I am depressed daily, I need to assess who I am seeing daily and accept this:
Most people MAY NOT WANT TO CHANGE the way they are living. I take responsibility for
ME. My thoughts and actions and attitude can change on a breath. I CAN START RIGHT
NOW. The best time to look at this is in a quiet, reflective moment before prayer. I ask for
help in shaking off what doesn’t work for me now. I understand this day is a gift from God.
So when I go over to God’s side, I immediately am filled with love, joy and goodness.
RIGHT THIS MOMENT ALL DARKNESS IS GONE. This is how quickly it happens. “Knock, and the
door is opened”. Jesus said this. Here HE IS. I am not alone anymore. I need to rule my
own thoughts. I replace the darkness with the Light of Christ. Trust in HIS Holy Spirit
because HE takes hold of my interior weakness and transforms it now! Knowing God is
healing me, I do not focus on problems. I quickly replace a dark thought with a “positive,
uplifting, power-filled thought”. I see light all around me. I say awesome affirmations.
Specifically this is the way, every single day, I am able to transform my thinking. The words
that follow “I AM” are absolutely powerful. Jesus stated amazingly, “I AM”.
So we must never put negative words after stating the words: “I AM”. How many times
have we heard someone say, I am stupid, I am no good, I am worthless. These
affirmations are only confirming to the brain negative, inferior, sad statements. Instantly I
turn this around and start affirming, “I AM CONFIDENT, I AM LOVING, I AM PEACE-FILLED”.
When these words are whispered inside of us, Angels go to work. Immediately feeling the
light of Jesus Christ come into my being, I AM SAFE. God calls me to be HIS Masterpiece
and accept MY BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD. I have no business thinking otherwise or
polluting my brain with dark, negative thoughts. No other person is like me. Uniquely
blessed with the Holy Spirit, HE inspires me to find courage and become empowered. “I
AM STRONG, I AM GOOD, I AM COURAGEOUS.”
I leave you today with this Anonymous Poem:
“I ASKED GOD…..”
I ASKED GOD FOR STRENGTH AND GOD GAVE ME DIFFICULTIES TO MAKE ME STRONG.
I ASKED FOR WISDOM AND GOD GAVE ME PROBLEMS FOR ME TO SOLVE.
I ASKED FOR PROSPERITY AND GOD GAVE ME BRAWN AND BRAIN TO WORK WITH.
I ASKED FOR COURAGE AND GOD GAVE ME DANGERS TO OVERCOME.
I ASKED FOR PATIENCE, GOD PLACED ME IN SITUATIONS WHERE I WAS FORCED TO WAIT.
I ASKED FOR LOVE AND GOD GAVE ME TROUBLED PEOPLE TO HELP.
I ASKED FOR FAVORS AND GOD GAVE ME OPPORTUNITIES.
I RECEIVED NOTHING I WANTED, YET I RECEIVED EVERYTHING I NEEDED.
MY PRAYER HAS BEEN TRULY ANSWERED.
CAN I EMBRACE THE POWERFUL “I AM” INSIDE ME WITH JESUS” HELP NOW?
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“Hard to Hope?” Blog #197
Too much to handle today and not enough energy?
Things not going my way, so am I easily defeated?
Trouble finding the truth and wanting a quick solution?
Seems like the days are flying by faster than I can keep up with lately. Now we head into
the holidays, and for many, these days are “little chance of finding bliss”. If only things
could and would and did work out just the way I want them to. How often have I thought
this. However, here is a jewel of an expression,
“Truth is not mine to create or change - TRUTH IS TRUTH”.
Often I may find myself living with an illusion of hope, rather than accepting Truth.
Lets get one thing straight - Living LIFE is hard - for success in most things = WORK.
HOPE - The definition is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen;
grounds for believing something good may happen; feeling of trust….”
How often I find myself living and believing and staying in the cycle of hopefulness. More
so because at the end of the day, I truly believe I am truly an optimist. I want to believe
things will turn out for the best. NOW I study that last sentence….”Want to believe that all
things turn out for the best”. Wow, this leaves the door open for lots of other things to
happen as well. Just because we WANT something to turn out for the best, does not mean
it will. Very often “Life” throws us a curve ball and as much as we wanted to prepare or
thought we did, living in a society with other people means we can ONLY CONTROL OUR
OWN ACTIONS, THOUGHTS AND DEEDS. Each of us is on our own separate path of growth.
When I pray I realize the need to pray to believe Jesus helps me see all things through
HIS eyes only.
I am better aware of because of my deepening relationship with my Lord, hoping to have
a good relationship with those around me. If someone in my inner circle is moody, angry,
blaming - I don’t just hope things get better, I can remove myself from this relationship
temporarily and move on. I pray for their highest good. I solely must have a ROUTINE DAILY
to follow and stay “afloat amidst all energy around me”. I stay protected, filled with the
Holy Spirit. How do I do this? Prayer all day long. I do not hope I am protected. I ask for
Jesus to protect me 24/7. I can say little prayers of thankfulness. I can ask for help in small
ways. I can listen for the holy spirit to guide my every intention.
HERE IS THE GREATEST PLACE HOPE COMES FROM. WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
No person can do life on his or her own. It is like carrying around a giant sack of wet
laundry day in and day out. I do not have energy enough to do this. Just planting one
seed of prayerful hope in dire sadness in the midst of adversity can result in miraculous
results. Without hope of Jesus Christ holding my hand, there is nothingness, despair and
regret. I must be open to the Holy Spirit filling my life with love. At the end of the day
without Jesus, I am alone, arguing my “feelings about life”. Hope, sadness, fear are all
emotions that must be generated around a “moral belief in Jesus Christ.”
Here is a final excerpt from a man who was paralyzed by fear in losing everything he had.
This was as recent as October 2025. One night during this past month he stumbled out of
bed and actually knelt beside it. He didn’t have eloquent words but he managed a simple
prayer, ”God help me, I don’t know what to do”. In that simple desperate plea he hoped
God heard him. Suddenly he felt a shift. A peace began to settle over him. He felt a quiet
assurance he was not alone. He started night after night not just seeking a solutions to his
immediate worries, but now he wanted to learn about God’s wisdom. He wanted God’s
guidance and a new spiritual perspective on living life. He realized prayer was not about
magically fixing his problems, but aligning his heart with God’s will. This man needed to
not just hope but to trust God’s will would bring all things in his life together for His highest
good. Through a series of unexpected events and divine connection, he got through his
crisis and emerged stronger than ever. Plus, he changed his priorities in life and what was
the most important to him was no longer just hope, but his daily belief in Jesus Christ
forever.
Can I hope and believe Jesus hears my prayers now?
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“Recipe to Believe” Blog #196
Does every day seem to be getting harder?
Where can I find “instant help to believe”?
How come I don’t feel closer to God?
The times when I don’t feel close to God are periods of dryness. Is it because there
appears to be no joy in my life? I must be aware of “the illusion of the secular world”. So I
begin a new spiritual searching and remembering. I am remembering how important it is
to “keep on keeping on”! For It’s these periods when one is most challenged, more
frustrated and looking for a place to feel at peace.
I remind myself to count on prayer. Instantly I can ask Jesus, “Help me now!”
For it is in prayer Jesus keeps me close to him. No matter what, WHEN I can find quiet
solitude, I can feel more at peace.
Years ago I was conversing with a priest and expressing the feelings I very often had, “hard
to even get up and go to church, so why bother?” I told him, “you probably think I am a
sinful person for saying something like that, yet it’s hard for me even to find a quiet place
to pray!” Thinking I was bearing my soul to him, he just smiled and said, “that is the whole
purpose of Keep on Keeping on!” Some days its important to just go through the moves
and keep doing what you are doing - why? Because “it is In the routine of doing
something good, that the good will continue to happen in your life”. This made sense. I
am reminded that some of the most famous people in the world who are renowned
believers in Christ were former atheists. They felt so alone and yet still kept on keeping on,
searching for that spiritual piece that was missing from their lives.
When I accept the fact Christianity gives me so much purpose for living, it is in the
believing that Jesus Christ IS there for me that makes me want to believe. This keeps me
centered. More and more each day I actually look forward to my quiet time in prayer. This
is where HE hears me. Now all my reasons for wanting to live are centered around the
actual Light of Jesus Christ. Reflecting on the fact that Jesus Christ was actually human,
gives me better insight into believing HE knows what is going on in my head. He
disciplined himself all the days of his life living on earth. Having honest courage to “Walk
the Talk”, knowing friends would turn on him. He kept on keeping on. Each and every day,
means to carve time out for private contemplative prayers.
What I see, hear and accept into my life depends a great deal on where I am standing in
life. What DO I believe in? Who ARE my friends? What DO I search up on the internet?
What actually makes up my character of who I am?
Maturing and “Good Living” happens when I choose to pray at any time each cay and
FOLLOW THRU with this. I become a “good person” when I follow through with a good moral
inventory of myself and decide to live a “Truth-filled life”. I can’t just think about being
moral, I must try to be moral and live a moral life. I can’t possibly believe Jesus is knocking
down my door to open it, when He has given me free will to choose whatever I want.
Although I believe I have free will, I MUST SEEK JESUS OUT FOR CHANGE TO HAPPEN. Each of
us is given freedom to “believe whatever we want to”. IF WE WANT TO COOK SOMETHING,
SPECIAL WE PREPARE THE RECIPE. Internally I can’t just think about Jesus, I have to seek him
out! That being said, if a person does not make a choice to believe and live in “goodness,
then that person is DIVIDED from goodness and easily slips into darkness.
Not to believe? This is where so many people are aligned with irrational thinking. Then the
believer of “Nothingness” comes in darkness with fear and isolated sadness. There most
certainly has to be a “Recipe to Believe which becomes a moral decision.
Can I take time out of my busy day to believe in prayer?
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“Warning Signs!” Blog #195
What is the difference between the secular world and the spiritual world?
Is my worldview centered on my physical realm or spiritual realm?
What spiritual rules do I consider myself living by now?
I know the difference between living in a secular world and a spiritual world lies in my
focus on what I value and prioritize. In other words, a secular worldview is centered on
the physical realm (living in this world now) and caring only about all I can desire in this
physical world around me. A “Spiritual Worldview” is centered and affirms -
I can only adequately deal with my existing concerns, IF I allow my life to be
transformed and enlightened by Jesus Christ (God) and I accept a divine reality to be
present”.
Ever heard the old saying, “it’s important to be in the world, but NOT OF THE WORLD”?
People have been trying to figure out what this means for almost two thousand years.
Basically, this means being present in the world but not fully attached to it. Not always
wanting to conform to what society asks us to do, or better still, expects us to do! Tell the
truth 24/7 and use my time wisely! What does this mean? Do I read something inspiring
and uplifting today? Rather, do I sit and scan the internet for anything to divert my mind
from truth?
Top Ten Wonderful Ways to Avoid Warning Signs” (No Spirituality)
Start my morning Prayer: “Surround me in light and help me Jesus”
I accept my pain today - “Asking for help, I listen to my inner guidance”
Connecting with my “Higher Self” I go outside, feel nature all around me.
All through my day, “Thank you Jesus for all I’m given to learn from”.
Take time today to reach out to help someone in need, with good energy.
I ask my Lord to please see all people through “his eyes only”.
Knowing my body IS the temple of God, I eat healthy food, drink water daily.
Connecting with “Like minded people”, I seek out only those who are truth filled”.
I let go of yesterday and tomorrow - living only in this present moment” I thrive.
Last and not least, I do something good, kind and healthy “JUST FOR ME TODAY”.
A very important side note I want to speak about at this moment is called….
Detachment.
The act of detachment means to “detach/separate from, move away from, be able to
be in the moment of what is going on but not succumb to it emotionally”.
All of us have situations that have happened to those around us, family members, friends,
associates who may have gone through troubling times. More often than not, they want
to pull me in, submerge me into their world of darkness and fear and sadness. To be able
to detach in a healthy manner is to do exactly that. Be a good listener, yet be on guard
for someone who tries to blame, manipulate, criticize for their situation! When a person
prays for “Discernment, detachment and discipline”, they able to sort through the situation
and see it for what it is - ENABLING. Always best to state, “I am not comfortable with the
way the conversation is going - best we talk later.” The secular world does not embrace
Spirituality. The darkness thrives in the world we live in today and it becomes harder and
harder to find Jesus. Yet, I will leave you with this medical miracle. What kind of a medical
miracle would it take for a Nobel Prize winning doctor to say, ”I think I am really going
crazy…was has happened was impossible, the unexpected thing, is now a miracle”. There
are at least seven brilliant physicians (one of which is a Nobel Prize Winner) who spent
their careers in the world of science with only scientific evidence, until they encountered
something that led them to faith in Jesus Christ. From a cancer specialist who witnessed
his own miraculous healing to the Harvard trauma surgeon who watched the “impossible”.
Just their stories will challenge everything known about secular life to spiritual miracles
and faith. Find time to research and read about Dr. Gary Onik who witnessed a double
miracle, Dr. Kathryn Butler who as a Harvard Trauma Specialist saw one impossible case
change miraculously. Then there is Dr. Jeffrey Long, a Radiation Oncologist who has
studied 4000 near death experiences documenting super natural healing.
So today is a good day to start acknowledging the warning signs of secularism and
honestly accepting a “spiritual worldview”, while embracing a purpose-filled, spiritual
driven, higher self life.
Can I build my own mini-universe with healthy spirit-filled people?”
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“Life Recipe” Blog #194
Do I have courage to hold firmly to truth?
Do I please other people, just to look better?
Do I realize “my praying” permits Jesus to love me?
Every day takes a lot of work. Some days take more work just to get through the morning. I
may be tested the most to just throw in the towel, give up and resign myself to the belief
“what does anything matter anyway”? All because I have NOT started my day with
“spiritual discipline”. I need to have my tools in place that are so needed to take on this
very day. So how do I start mornings?
WAKE UP AND PRAY FOR HELP IN ALL I THINK AND DO. SIMPLY A GREAT START! THEN I GET
SOME KIND OF EXERCISE. IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, I CAN DO ISOMETRICS. I CAN FLEX MY
MUSCLES, MOVE MY ARMS AND LEGS FOR I5 TO 20 MINUTES. I DO ALL OF THIS WITH DEEP
BREATHING AND POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS. I EAT HEALTHY FOOD.
What do I mean by positive affirmations? Anytime I use the words “I AM”, I must put a
positive spin to this. “I am healthy, I am loving, I am kind.” Did you know the longest living
“healthiest families in the world” are not that far away? These people live in Italy, Greece,
Japan Costa Rica and the United States of America. The average life span is from nineties
to well into one hundred years old. Why do these people live so long and feel so good?
Look into the BLUE ZONE PEOPLE.
It’s all about lifestyle and the habits I have developed to live my life day to day.
In the year 2012 one family had nine siblings, the eldest was 109 years old. In most of these
countries elderly are treated like Kings and Queens. They stand for goodness and high
moral decisions. The older family members continue to live with their family until DEATH.
They are revered, honored and looked up to! If life is lived to its fullest, we want to care for
our bodies. THEN we pass all this down to our children and their children. We have
“Healthy Recipes for Living Life”. Therein is how the circle is “suppose to go”
However, we live in dark times where the secular has taken over for the spiritual. I’m
going to regress for a moment and speak about the “secular times we live in”. Little
chance for me to “find the light of Jesus Christ” in every day UNLESS I am able to ASK FOR
THE LIGHT OF JESUS TO SURROUND ME NOW”. IF I choose NOT to pray in the morning
before start of day, all kinds of darkness has ways of infiltrating into my being. There is the
television, internet, or a phone call from someone who is angry. So I state now,
unequivocally. NO DOUBT in my mind about times we now live in.
KEEP MYSELF PROTECTED IN JESUS LIGHT, ALWAYS. Forgive each day, all situations.
“A (partial) Poem dedicated to YOU by Mother Theresa”
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered.
Forgive them anyway.
IF you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives,
Be kind anyway.
IF you are honest and frank, people may cheat you,
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight,
Build anyway.
The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow,
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough,
Still - give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see - in the final analysis, it’s between You and GOD,
IT never was between you and them anyway.
Can I surround myself in the light of Jesus Christ right now?
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“Danger or Truth?” Blog #193
WHAT gives deep meaning to my life right now”?
CAN I hold myself to a higher standard of living all day long?
DO I know how to lead a Purposeful Life?
Chances are most of us have had our share of bad days. I was told not so long ago,
“if you’re having a bad day, go somewhere, pray and figure yourself out!”
To start things out, how DO I start my day? Didn’t get enough sleep last night? Then from
this day forward I carve out at least eight hours every night. I MUST PRAY.
I ask God, “Take the demons from my thinking, Lord, Heal my body, mind and spirit”
Help me stop giving in to those around me with their secular beliefs. I stay strong.
Quietly I ask, is my life in peace or chaos, not worrying about other people who I have no
control over? More often than not, I can’t help others help themselves. So I must decide to
start with baby steps on MYSELF. Past choices try to sneak into my psyche, trying to bring
me down. The radio, my phone, the television, people around me, the news, family,
friends….everyone with a different way to live life. I must rely on TRUTH. Even when past
dark memories continue to haunt me, I pile these up now and give them to the Lord. This
time they are complete. For I include the powerful ingredient of “forgiveness”, so
critical to healing ME. Every person, every event every situation, I have no control over
who has hurt me, I now give them all up. I take a deep breath. Feeling a sense of freedom,
not felt before. I know this is truth.
I heard about a man yesterday, who for sixty years carried around seething anger. He was
bitter and cried for his loss. Sadness, blame and resentment building inside him, for over
sixty years. All because a drunk driver hit their car. The accident happened when this man
was eleven years old. His dad was driving the car and as a result of the accident, his
father died. This man said, “IF Charlie Kirk’s wife can speak out and forgive the man who
murdered her husband. Now left alone, she must raise their one year old and a three
year old. Dear God, I can bring myself to forgive as well”.
The reason I say truth goes into dangerous territory is because we all settle. We settle in
to one way of thinking, and we stay there. Convinced our way is the right way of looking at
truth. We may justify “No forgiveness for me”. Our lives daily evolve and mesh into our own
reality. Before in my Blog, I spoke about Pilot asking Jesus, “What is Truth”? Jesus spoke,
lived and died for the truth. Forgiveness is TRUTH. Regardless of how HE was humiliated,
beaten and scorned, at the end Jesus said this,
“Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
In my life today and every day I ask myself, “What would Jesus DO?”
I too, have carried heavy anger and the back-breaking burden of “Why Me LORD?”
l lost my mother AND my daughter to horrifying manners of death - way too early for their
lives to end. Finally, I embrace the real truth. Listening to Erica Kirk speak at her husbands
Memorial, I was overcome with emotion how she forgave her husbands killer. Filled with
my own bitter exhaustion, I carried a cross of such anger. Time for me to lay it down and
give it all to God. Believing my beautiful daughter and my beloved mother are safe in
God’s hands. I completely forgive the person who killed my Mother. I forgive my daughter
for dark choices she made at the end of her life. I begin to live bravely. Today, I embrace
the statement,
“There is no danger in letting go, finding the truth in Jesus Christ” Many people are
uncomfortable with that statement. People hide-out in a secular life. Sad, dark lives.
Now If I have a down day like so many of us do at times, I scream boldly internally to
myself, “Stop thinking about YOURSELF”. GO DO SOMETHING HEALTHY ALL DAY LONG.
Those who hide behind drugs, vapes and alcohol are kidding themselves. Hiding behind
TikTok and Social Media also not truth sources. Lying and Deception are all over Social
Media. Evil is a rising power on the Internet and uses camouflaged control. Only a person
with courage, integrity and conviction will TURN OFF social media liars on the Internet.
Finding healthy outposts and alternative positive outlets. A courageous person with a
Strong Moral Code prevails. I listen to my conscience now tell the Truth.
I love the following message especially when read backwards from RIGHT to LEFT.
LAZINESS KILLS AMBITION
ANGER KILLS WISDOM
FEAR KILLS DREAMS.
JEALOUSY KILLS PEACE. (now read again, from RIGHT to LEFT)
___Anonymous___
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“Why Believe?” Blog #192
Do I believe I am powerless over temptation?
Can I turn control of my life over to my Highest Power?
Will I believe Jesus Christ is the highest power in my life today?
Everyone on earth has a different definition of Integrity. Some people believe what you
say, what you think and what you do are all the same things. However, basic truth is this
- integrity means being honest and upright, while avoiding deception, and
incorporating the highest values you know to be true.
When a person lives according to the values and beliefs that are absolute truth, THIS THEN
MAKES UP A PERSONS CHARACTER. So, I must be absolutely sincere, honest, and avoid all
deceptive behavior. Once I incorporate this belief system Into my life, it is therefore at the
core and at the root of how I live my life.
So, why should I believe INTEGRITY IS EVEN IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE? BECAUSE IF I
COMPROMISE MY PERSONAL INTEGRITY, (NOT TELL THE TRUTH ALWAYS) THEN I BREAK THE
BONDS OF RESPECT AND TRUST BETWEEN MYSELF, MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY.
People will have no respect for me. People will have no reason to believe anything I tell
them. My life will be filled with much chaos, regret and sadness. Imagine waking up one
morning and saying to oneself, “I will go through this entire day being absolutely honest,
sincere and truthful about everything I think and say and do.” This is truly one of the
hardest things to do! Wherever could I find the strength to help me to do this? When I
accept Jesus into my life, he awakens my conscience to want to do the right thing always.
Because of this, I want and need Integrity at my core.
I am seeing more every day, I cannot live my life without Jesus Christ.
More than anything else, Jesus lived his life with Integrity.
I believe INTEGRITY stands for truth, honesty and no deception.
One of my favorite true stories of all time is reflected in the Bible Verse, John 18 vs. 36.
Jesus was asked by Pilot who HE is and where HE is from? Jesus answered, “My kingdom is
not of this world.” Pilot said to Jesus, “Are you a King then?” Jesus said, “You say I am a
King and to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world: that I should
bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that “is of the truth” hearth my voice.”
NOW COMES THE GOOD PART! Pilot says to Jesus, “WHAT IS TRUTH?” Again, Pilot says to
Jesus, “WHAT IS TRUTH?” AND PILOT COULD FIND NO FAULT WITH JESUS.
Nothing in the world can take the place of Truth and Integrity is the basis for all truth. I
want to live my life each and every day with this Mind Set. Jesus helps me do it. The Best
way I can incorporate TRUTH into my life is a partnership with Jesus. Striving for a life of
Integrity, brings me closer to my Lord. Jesus stated before HE died that HE came into the
world to bear witness to the TRUTH.
Each and every one of us, every single day must ask ourself, “WHAT IS TRUTH?”
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“Wake Me Up!” Blog #191
Good Values, old fashioned morals, truth….is this me?
Can I be braver spiritually than ever before?
Am I asleep in this secular world I live in….NO Jesus Christ?
All the way back to Abraham Lincoln, here was a man who asked “For God’s Comfort”.
Every piece of money that exists in the United States of America says, “In God We Trust”.
Today I want to learn to BE AWAKE to the light of CHRISTIANITY AND FEEL SUPPORTED.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, I MUST ASK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN.
In very simple terms, if someone were to ask me, “What is the purpose of my life?”, I would
answer, “THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE IS TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AND MAKE HIM KNOWN TO
OTHERS”. It seems when most people read something like this, it makes them
uncomfortable. Others may say, “Oh what’s the harm in watching a scary movie, or seeing
crime shows on t.v. or listening to a few stories where my friends or family have screwed
up and I can sit back and judge them?” Because I cannot.
The reason most people do not want to talk about Jesus is because it is not just
uncomfortable. HE IS NOT SOMEONE TO IDENTIFY WITH. LIVING IN A SECULAR SOCIETY WHERE
DARKNESS PREVAILS IS COMFORTABLE. Imagine being in a dark room for day after day and
someone comes in and flips on a very bright light. It is hard to adjust to, to say the least.
In order for ME to start today and “Wake Myself Up”, I must do the following:
I must be BRAVER SPIRITUALLY than ever before!
I must AWAKE in the morning and say the Lords Prayer.
I must suffer and do things I do not want to do - STUDY the Bible.
I MUST HAVE COURAGE to make a personal decision FOR Jesus Christ.
I can give HIM 15 minutes every single morning to start.
FOR HE only will wake me up!
I MUST LEARN THAT COURAGE IS A CHOICE. MY LIFE NEEDS STRUCTURE. WITH STRUCTURE AND
DISCIPLINE I CAN FIND TIME EACH DAY TO DEDICATE 15 MINUTES TO LEARN ABOUT MY LORD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I FIND FORGIVENESS IN MY HEART FOR MYSELF. I HAVE NO HATE IN MY
HEART FOR ANYONE. I REPENT OF ALL MY SINS.
So to truly wake me up in a different positive, light of Christ energy, I need to remember:
“It’s not what I say and want to do, but HOW I live my life every single day.”
So now I see I must wake up and put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD and fight for TRUTH.
I WAKE UP TO A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE IN Jesus Christ FROM THIS DAY FORWARD.
Can I wake up in the morning and be braver than ever before?
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“My Daily Recipe” Blog #190
Is it possible to refuse to give in to Depression?
Do I feel drained and overcome with anxiety many days?
Do screens and cell phones take the place of calm in my life?
There have been moments in every persons life where each of us have been afraid to live
and afraid to die. This is a normal part of living. It was only in one of my moments of
frustrated isolation, searching inward, crying out internally, when a quiet moment of actual
prayer inside me asked for help. My prayer was heard. Immediately I felt calm, loved
and at peace. At this stage of my life, I can quietly confirm I will always be unprepared to
deal with any kind of crisis unless I incorporate the tools for dealing with life in only one
way. My Daily Recipe for living is what has kept my head above water and served as
my lifeboat amidst any storm I may encounter. The best part of my Daily Recipe is
working out of my “Higher Self” with levels of energy and awareness. Jesus Christ is
here to show me the way every minute of every hour of each day.
It’s absolutely critical I keep my body pure and clean of any outside sources of
compromise. I do not drink, smoke or put any drugs into my being. Dark energies
cannot and will not and do not enter into my person because I do not allow this! There are
Two Choices of being in this world today, WHICH ONE AM I?
A Higher Self Mentality Lower Self Mentality
Spirituality, Devotion Fear, Doubt, Anger
Love, Trust, Honesty Mistrust, Gossip, Judging
Understanding, Forgiveness Resentment, Blame
Discernment, Discipline Worry, Remorse,
Humor, Honor Denial, Lying
The first part of my Daily Recipe is waking each morning and praying 15 minutes. While in
prayer with my Creator I am taking deep breaths and asking questions,
Why Am I alive? Whats my purpose for living? Why is this Situation in my life today?
Many of the words in Higher Self “Mentality are asked of me DAILY? (Go over them)
Who am I to Forgive today? How Can I discern what I need to do? How do I discipline?
My Daily Recipe Prayer:
Thank you God for surrounding me in Love, Light and Laughter. Lead me in the right
direction for my Highest Good and thank you for keeping me In my “Higher Self” while I
am on this earth”
I always want to be ready for any encounter I may have. I ask Jesus to please keep me
protected with HIS “Spiritual Armor of Protection” around me always. Some people out
there may say, “but look at Charlie Kirk, he was an outspoken Evangelical Christian and a
Conservative Campus Activist. He was all about Jesus Christ and yet still he was gunned
down on a college campus!” We do not know when each of us will die. This is not up to us
to decide. Yet, one thing is for sure, Charlie was not afraid to die. Now Charlie has become
a Christian Martyr. Ironically, just a few months before he was gunned down, Charlie was
interviewed by Jack Selby, host of the Iced Coffee Hour. Jack said to Charlie, “If everything
just completely went away, how would you want to be remembered today?” Charlie said:
“you mean if I die?” Jack Selby said, “Yes, How would you want to be remembered?” “I
want to be remembered for courage for my faith“, Charlie Kirk answered. “That would
be the most important thing. The most important thing to me is my faith”.
Just prior to getting shot, Charlie had proclaimed to the crowd of over three thousand
people gathered on the campus at Orem, Utah. Christ is Lord and the Son of God has
defeated death”. We live in very secular times right now. Sad, dark times. There is so much
mystery to life and things we will never understand. However, I understand this, with my
Christian Faith in tact and my Daily Recipe for living, I feel strong, safe and removed from
the “slings and arrows” of any daily darkness I may encounter. My Faith has replaced my
Fear.
Can I incorporate a Daily Recipe for living in my life today?
“Fight Evil?” Blog #189
Do I think whatever I do today doesn’t measure up?
Am I just the sum of all my daily highs and lows?
Where am I falling short of what I really want for my life?
Someone once told me long ago, “Either stand for something, or fall for anything”.
Yesterday a young thirty one year old conservative man who thought he stood for
something good in America today, was assassinated on the campus of Orem, Utah
University in front of thousands of young people. He went there to talk about the
importance of standing for values and truth and conservative ideas. This is a young man
who started an organization called Turning Point U.S.A. over twelve years ago. He now has
millions of young followers. He has gone to high schools and colleges across the country
talking about the importance of being able to have a conversation out in the open about
different agendas. He can never do this again. He left behind a young wife and two small
children. He was a kind, loving, honest man. This type of senseless killing has become
rampant in our country today.
Less than two weeks ago little children were at Mass at a Catholic School in Minneapolis,
Minnesota. They too, were assassinated while just attending church school. Does pure evil
exist? Yes, it certainly does. Yet, what can I possible do to combat evil? How can I live my
life and believe I can even make any difference? It doesn't seem possible.
With so much hate out there today, it seems to be mushrooming around me. Then more
importantly I struggle with my thoughts and wonder what can possibly combat such evil
forces all around. Is there a stronger force out there to do this? It is very easy to cave in
to ones’ own fear, sadness and insecurity. As I grow and go and take on each day, I must
remember constantly there is choice all around me. Life is nothing more than a series of
windows of opportunity strung together. This means I must be careful in choosing who I
associate with. I must be aware of where I choose to go each day. I must seek only
goodness to fill any voids in my life. For sometimes windows of opportunity open and
close and never open again. It is only in my higher self awareness that I find and
embrace these possibilities of promise. So it is important for me to learn from everything I
see around me.
I see evil in the vicious murder of Charlie Kirk. Here was a young man who was a role
model for truth, and love and righteousness. So what can possibly fight such evil today:
LOVE IS THE ONLY FORCE THAT IS STRONGER THAN EVIL.
Even Albert Einstein admitted this to be true! He wrote a letter to his daughter before
he died stating this:
“There is an extremely powerful force that, so far, science has not found a formal
explanation for. It is a force that includes and governs all others and is even behind
any phenomenon operating in the universe and has not yet been identified by us. This
universal force is LOVE. When scientists looked for a unified theory of the universe they
forgot the most powerful unseen force: LOVE is light. That light enlightens those who
give and receive it. LOVE is gravity, because it makes some people feel attracted to
others. LOVE is power, because it multiplies the best we have and allows humanity not
to be extinguished in their blind selfishness, LOVE unfolds and reveals. For LOVE we live
and die. LOVE is GOD and God is LOVE. This force explains everything and gives
meaning to life. This is the variable that we have ignored too long, maybe because we
are afraid of LOVE, because it is the only energy in the universe that man has not
learned to drive at will.“ Albert Einstein
I believe as a Christian at heart, my life is to stand for LOVE and to live in truth and believe
in the goodness of God. We can’t possibly understand why good and loving and kind
Christians are taken away as they sometimes are. Yet, I believe this is not our true home.
Earth is but a testing ground for as long as we are alive to learn our lessons and try to
evolve. Eventually, God willing, we leave and go to our true home and are united with the
source of all LOVE.
Can I find a way to embrace the strongest force of all - LOVE?
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“Still Standing?” Blog #188
Why can’t I figure out how to stick with my own “self care”?
How come it’s so difficult to build lasting good habits for me?
Can I give up a life of fast food, toxins and negative people around me?
I know deep inside, I truly want inner balance, spiritual growth and a healthy body. Yet,
sometimes I feel overwhelmed and suddenly it all comes crashing down around me.
What keeps me from giving up, throwing in the towel, falling down?
It’s miraculous how horrible tragedies and setbacks can turn one persons life from staying
stuck to standing tall. Justin Bieber, a very famous celebrity states that, “God has
redeemed me from a past life of an almost inevitable road of emptiness. I was
surrounded by people who were all kind of just escaping from real life….” He went on to
state, “I feel comforted now. I feel my relationship with God is wonderful. I feel safe.”
Thomas Edison failed over 1000 times and closer to 10,000 attempts were made before he
actually created a beacon of light called the Light Bulb. He stated, “I have not failed, just
found 10,000 ways to show it has not worked yet….”
In 2003 a woman named Kris Karr was just thirty two years old and living in New York. She
thought she was enjoying her life, yet after a routine checkup at her doctors office she was
told she had a rare and incurable stage IV cancer existing in her liver and lungs. Instead
of giving in to the disease, she decided to challenge her diagnosis head on. She attacked
the cancer with a brand new nutritional life style. She turned her experience into a series
of successful self-help books and documentaries. She launched her own wellness
website. Today she is celebrating years and years without cancer and is now revered as
one of the most prominent experts on healthy living.
She believes, “we are not alone. Unseen forces work on our behalf. We must start by
having faith. There is a much bigger love always available to us. Call it God.”
Another famous woman whose net worth is close to three billion dollars is Oprah Winfrey.
She gave birth at age fourteen and lost the child. She was reported to have been
molested by a cousin, an uncle and a family friend. Yet, she went on to excel as an Honors
student and get a full scholarship to college. Oprah Winfrey is not only a devout Christian
but volunteers her favorite verse in the Bible is Acts 17:28,
“For in HIM we live, and move, and have our being. For as certain as your own poets
have said, for we are also HIS offspring.”
Then there is the young girl named Bethany Hamilton. Bethany loved surfing and at the
young age of just thirteen, she lost her left arm in a deadly shark attack. However, just one
month later, and with one arm left, Bethany was back out surfing. Two years after that she
won first place in the Explorer Women’s Division of the NSSA National Championships. She
refused to fall down and give in and give up. Bethany attributes all her strength to being a
Christian. Bethany went on to state that she could not have done anything in her life if it
were not because of her complete faith in Jesus Christ.
By the time Jim Carrey was fifteen years old, he had to drop out of school to support his
family. His father was unemployed and the family went from lower middle class to living in
a van. However, that never stopped Jim Carrey from achieving his dream of being a
famous comedian. He now stars in mega-blockbusters and is known as one of the best
comedians of his time. Jim Carrey believes that in our hard times of suffering we can
“either become vengeful and fall down or we can forgive just as Jesus did on the cross,
and go on…”
These incredible stories are but a few of the famous and not-so famous people who not
only embrace the positive side of life but have learned the biggest lesson of all,
“NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP”
I know each and every one of us have all made mistakes. Each and every one of us have
gone the wrong way one time or another. Now, even in the midst of complete darkness, I
believe Jesus wants to have a deep conversation with me. I know this is true. So every day
I will try to stand taller, try just a little bit harder knowing Jesus has my back, I’m still
standing tall insulated by HIS Holy Spirit 24/7.
Can I find Jesus today and keep standing tall?
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“Healthy Mind?” Blog #187
What exactly makes me a mentally healthy person?
Do I push myself to learn about spiritual truths today?
Can I find healthy thoughts in my daily actions?
When I am very sad and I don’t know what to do, this is usually when my mind begins to
stretch, and IF I am prayerful, I can follow a divine pattern. Yet, most of the time, in the
past, I have remained in the world and “of the world”. The heavy, weighty, dark feelings
that can come over me are because I allow it. There is not much choice when a mind
decides to GO BLACK. What do I mean? I mean times when I have allowed “dark patterns”
to take over. Times when I have stated to myself, “Whats the use?” Whether a person
struggles with depression, anxiety or addiction, there is one true statement here, “The
mind is in Charge totally.”
What I think decides my course of action for my entire day. I am in charge of me. By
deciding on a belief in Jesus Christ, I can break the chains of dark thinking now. I don’t
think a person can grasp the gravity of what is going on when a person just “waivers back
and forth” in their spiritual quest for accepting Jesus into their heart. It’s either YES or NO.
There is not an in between. I must have a purposeful life to live.
I believe that 2025 is an amazing year for people to change their belief system and bring
Jesus Christ into their life. Very famous philosophical, non-believing people have changed
over and found Christianity. Some people just had a fascination with Jesus. Other people
have had super-natural experiences and still others have let go of their battle with
addiction and had a life-changing super-natural experience.
A good example of extreme living was Nala Ray, once an atheist and in the porn industry
has since left it all, encountered Jesus and converted to Christianity. Then we have Ayaan
Hirsi Ali who is a Muslim by nature and a famous critic of Islam. She became disillusioned
with Islam after seeing its restorative aspects especially regarding women’s rights. She
became a Christian she writes because “ all people are made in the image of God -
human beings are people not things”. Prior to Jesus, Ayaan Ali found herself “spiritually
empty and, upon exploring Christianity, found it wasn’t just compelling, but true”. Then we
have Claire Elise Boucher, known professionally as “GRIMES”. Grimes is a Canadian
musician, singer, song-writer, record producer, music video director and visual artist. She
recently posted on line that she was embarrassed to admit that she was getting into
Christianity as it was the ONLY thing to stop her from vaping. Fascinating to see how
many people, especially celebrity conversions, say they were once opposed to Jesus
and now are taking steps to only embrace HIM.
These testimonials across different spheres of influence show a profound leap in FAITH.
My life is like a spider web, when I am in the middle of it, I am caught up and at times no
idea how to escape. Yet, when I close my eyes, I step aside and see the beautiful intricate
pattern Jesus has painted for me to step out of my pain, isolation and all hopelessness.
Can I find a way to embrace my Healthy mind today?
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''Demanding Life?” Blog #186
What healthy information do I bring into my life today?
Am I side-tracked by someone giving me negative comments?
Where do I get inner strength to follow my higher path?
Standing up for good is hard. It’s not easy getting up in the morning and telling myself,
“today I will discipline my mind, my body and how I spend my time in healthy ways”.
It’s important to tell myself at the start of this day,
“I will do something today that my future self will thank me for”.
Getting up in the morning and having discipline immediately is hard! It’s even more
challenging when my mind and body don’t want to listen to my inner voice of reason. A
demanding life that is healthy is a good life. A demanding life that asks more of me, is an
important life. A demanding life that challenges me to the core, takes courage to see
through. There was a time when I lived my life by doing “just enough to get by”. This type
of life style is dangerous and eroding and all consuming. As someone said,
“No Pain - No gain”. Every valuable thing in life is worth fighting for!
I myself know when I faced hard times, it seemed like it could break me. Yet, at the
moments when I was so overcome with such darkness that I thought it would break me, it
was at that moment when I put my hands together and felt tremendous strength. It’s hard
to imagine my life without Jesus because I have traveled down so many sad roads and
now rely on the one force I know will always give me solace. Yes, my life has been
demanding, yet I look around and there is not a soul I know who does not have a life filled
with some sort of pain that demands their attention. Even though I have gone through
such pain, I felt it would break me, it was here I found my inner strength to push forward. I
have learned more about myself in those “magical moments” of trial and error and found
in my weakness I gained inner strength.
In my sorrow, I found compassion for others. In total darkness, Jesus lights my way.
When I look at my struggles in my life, I see my character developing depending on
what I demand FOR MYSELF. I demand a healthy, honest, Christian life.
Whatever I am facing at the moment, because I have courage to face my fear, I now can
face my future. Just having the mindset to persevere when all else seems lost, brings me
peace in my demanding life each day. I remember to pray first. Then I ask for the 3 “D”s.
Discipline, Discernment and Detachment. When I have discipline, I can face my demands.
When I discern, I know who to listen to and when to walk away. With Detachment, I can let
go of things not needed today. In my demanding life, as it is each day, I share a favorite
poem showing me the way.
“DON’T QUIT”
By John Greenleaf Whittier
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
when the road your trudging seems all up hill,
when your funds are low and your debt is high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
rest if you must, but don’t you quit!
Life is strange with its twists and turns,
as everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure comes about,
when you might have won had you stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
you may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell just how close you are,
you may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when your hardest hit,
it’s when things seem worse that you
MUST NOT QUIT!
Am I ready to bring Jesus into my demanding life today?
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“Life Lift Now?” Blog #185
Is it time for me to be looking for a “Real Life Lift”?
Do thoughts get me down, keep me stuck in a rut?
What happens daily, to finding positivity during waking hours?
Maybe it’s time for me to start looking at a “Real Lifestyle Lift”. If I get in the car and start
driving down the wrong way on the freeway, cars will honk, I may get hit and above all it’s
dangerous! Yet, so often I may interject dangerous things to the way I live, just because I
am an adult. NO ONE out there has the right to tell me S T O P living in a dangerous
manner!
WHAT IN THE WORLD DO I MEAN BY THIS? It starts with my “way of thinking”. Do I constantly
tell myself I know all the answers and no one can help me figure out my life? Some people
take on a fixed way of thinking early in their life, and never deviate. No one can tell them
differently, so why should it matter? Here is a great example. There was an amazing
singer named Karen Carpenter. Her records sold over one hundred million and to this day
we still listen to many of our favorite songs by Karen. She died at the age of thirty two in
l983. Karen spent the last seven years of her life struggling with an eating disorder. Her
mother favored Karen’s brother Richard over Karen. When Karen finally did marry, her
husband lied to her about having a vasectomy. Having a family meant the world to Karen.
This marriage was short-lived and Karen spent the last years of her life as well as most of
her life, feeling “unloved”.
The most important part of living is to believe this statement:
“My body is the Temple of God”. When I embrace this truth, my life is worth living.
A lot of people think and say, “Its my body, I can do with it what ever I want!” That may be -
however living “any kind of lifestyle” is not without repercussions. If we smoke and vape
and do drugs we do this with perilous risk. My brain is constantly looking for reasons to be
depressed or enlightened. ANY type of chemical going into my body impacts my immune
system, my memory and my judgement. Imagine IF I do this on a regular basis? New
reports out today show the prevelence of depression is growing! In young people and
adults, depression has increased in the past decade by over 60%. WHY IS THIS? I feel this is
because we all want AN INSTANT FIX.
Remember at the beginning of my Blog, I talked about “getting in a car and driving down
the road the wrong way - gets me in trouble?” Fascinating fact: “just setting foot in a
different location stimulates neural circuitry that leads to POSITIVE affect. Depression
can be seen as a “kind of a cave” and it actually takes effort to get out of the cave!”
(Wikipedia)
In my life, I do not have all the answers regardless of how old I become. So I stay humble. I
believe my life is about learning until I die. Every day I am open to a ‘New Life Lift”. I start
my day with thankful prayer. I am thankful for being alive. I am filled with the Holy Spirit
and above all I accept “my body is the Temple of God”. I nurture it, feed it healthy good
food and drink lots of water. Knowing all this, if I sense a danger flag of depression
gnawing at I me, I have tools in place. These dark thoughts will pass. I find positivity in
feeling I am alive. I am well. I am at peace. No one on earth is like me. No one on earth
thinks the thoughts I think, I realize I am my own worst enemy or my own greatest teacher.
Putting into place a Life Lift Now, I see a brilliant way to install a self help strategy
promoting self confidence and belief in my ability to overcome depression. If I don’t do
this, who else will? From this day forward I vow to be my own best friend, ally and major
promoter of “internal good thoughts”. Thank you Jesus for my life, my body and my
healthy mind.
Am I ready to put into place my own “Life Lift” now?
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“No Joy?” Blog #184
Where do my Daily Habits take me throughout this day?
Am I thinking or am I praying in my last moments before sleep?
How have I reacted to challenges given me these past 24 hours?
Every day, whether I want to admit it or not, there is a curve ball waiting for me.
Sometimes it is a health situation. Sometimes it is the way someone treats me, when out
of the blue, a dagger comes my way. Oftentimes, it is in “my mood of the moment”. A
myriad of moods can take me down a darker path if I am not prepared to face it.
The tools I have in place for leading my life today are critical.
Where do I find these tools and what exactly are the most important ones?
First is my Faith. I find my faith growing stronger with my prayer increasing daily. I cannot
heal any part of my body without admitting it takes my work! IT TAKES my DISCIPLINE.
I already know what I know, what needs to be done. So I put in place: Discipline.
Before I realized how important disciple was to my life, I have to admit, my own life was
filled with random friends and random activities. Yes I was doing my job each day. Yet, at
the end of the day, I felt I could “do whatever I wanted to just because…”. This is very
dangerous thinking. Darkness is always waiting to seep in. I ignored the fact people
influence people. So, that being said, WHO were the people in my life surrounding and
influencing my thinking? All kinds of people were in my life. What kind of friends was I
attracting and why? Who challenged me in a good way? Above all - where was the joy
in my life?
It’s important to “search internally for oneself’. Keep the understanding, it is better to be
alone then to settle for “just anyone”. I needed to accept how much I was being
influenced by the wrong individuals. I needed to accept “that just anyone” could be a
person who likes living with dark thinking. Because we are all given free will, many of us
choose to go through our entire life having no problem wallowing in depression every day!
Many individuals don’t mind being “STUCK IN DARKNESS”. It has become a comfort zone.
Living day to day with band-aids on and hiding behind drugs, alcohol and pills. So
listening to this platitude helps define what I am talking about.
Albert Einstein states, “the definition of Insanity is doing the SAME thing over and over
and expecting different results”. I must be learning more about myself every single
day. Pray, read, exercise.
Now what? Here is where the big guns have to come out. Here is where the next tool must
immediately go into place: COURAGE. When I put courage into place I have the mental
and the moral strength to want to do the right thing for myself now. This allows me to
persevere without the fear of difficulty in what I must face. I look at people around me with
new found integrity. So now I choose people to be in my inner circle carefully. I want to be
around people who are honest, spiritual and joyful. Against the darkness of being silent,
when it is wrong to stay silent, this is the time I have courage to do the right thing, or ELSE
my own life will suffer greatly.
Using her own voice to push through dark and fear, a courageous young girl defied the
Taliban. Malala Yousafzai is the youngest woman ever to have received the Nobel Peace
Prize. She is a young Pakistani girl who just wanted to learn and go to school. However,
the Taliban banned her from attending any classes just because she was a girl! This did
not stop her and Malala continued to speak. Then the Taliban shot her in the head and
miraculously she survived! Malala has gone on to be a global force for girls education
and above all she fought the fight against extremism. She was not afraid even after being
shot in the head and almost dying! Her courageous example demonstrates how
important ONE PERSONS COURAGE can be. Now Malala has her degree from Oxford
University and has written three books about her horrific struggle to bring freedom to the
girls wanting an education in Pakistan..
Malala says something powerful and I repeat it here:
“to anyone setting off in life on any adventure, the most important part of life is to keep
going, keep discovering YOU, for that’s the most important education of all”.
Each of us have this same courage inside. I know when I make the right, healthy,
deliberate decision for myself, this feels internally correct. I can embrace my own truth. I
might be afraid right this moment, still I PRAY for strength to do the right thing today and
every day. I believe it takes courage to do it.
Courage appears instantly. Healing in my life takes work, courage and discipline daily.
Having the courage to do what I need to do for myself, EVEN THOUGH I AM AFRAID, I do it.
This is where I bring joy into my life. I can find my faith and let go of all my fear.
Sometimes it takes an uncomfortable conversation with someone who is bringing me
down. I can do this. I am no longer afraid. I define FEAR - False Events Appearing Real.
Little by little, I am now growing internally with the new found joy for who I am. Who am I?
I am the Temple of God. I am Faith. I am Discipline. I am Courage.
Can I start now to find Joy in my life today?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW
“Hiding Out?” Blog #183
I look back at myself to a much younger me, am I disappointed?
Proud to see a “higher self, how do I present myself to those around me?
Do I pray to find hidden talents buried deep inside?
One day when I was ten years old, I was walking around my neighborhood. Knowing most
of the people up and down the block. I knew all the names. I thought the adults in those
homes seemed very old to me! I recall thinking someday, I will go far away and do
whatever I want to do with my life. I also look back thinking, “If I walk around the block
enough times and hold my breath to the count of sixty or more, maybe all my wishes for
what I want will come true…..” How many of us are filled with hidden little “Jinx’s?” How
often have I tried to sabotage my own outcome? Do I disregard my higher self intent?
Time goes so fast from twenty to forty to sixty , seventy five…and then what? The best part
of looking back at my life was when I dared to believe in myself and I just did it. I moved
to another state, I went after a job I never thought I could get, then I got it! Taking a
chance on something good, I believed would happen. If “something I want to go after is
for my highest good - Pray first then, go after it”.
How awesome life can be, when I stop hiding out. Whether it’s the wrong kind of friends
who hold me down, or the crutch of alcohol or drugs, or something someone said who has
kept me stuck, these are all my own challenges. I refuse to keep hiding out I have faith,
fortitude and am free from “old dark drama”.
There are people from all over the world. Young people, those in midlife to the very old. All
have made a positive difference in the world from their pain. INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
TO SOCIETY FROM INDIVIDUAL PAIN. People from twelve to ninety two, have changed the
face of America from inside out. Recently in Texas, too many children to name, died in a
tragic camp flood, yet a 12 year old girl rewrote the lines to Hallelujah and remembered 28
of her camp friends who died on national TV. Then there was a young mother who
tragically lost her beautiful daughter to a repeat drunk driver offender! Yet Candy Lightner
turned her personal tragedy into help for millions, when she started MADD, Mothers Against
Drunk Drivers. There was Julia Child who had never cooked much of anything and went to
France with her husbands job, and had no idea what to do with her spare time. So she not
only attended cooking school late in life, but became famous In America and Europe for
many cook books and TV shows, teaching others how to prepare delicious meals. A small
little lady has left a permanent mark on the world. Mother Teresa left an imprint on the
entire world by helping the lepers of Calcutta and heal the poor. When a reporter stopped
her on a street corner, she had recently received the Nobel Peace Prize. He said, “You have
dedicated your life to helping the poorest of the poor - the lepers, millions of people living
in extreme poverty imaginable, how have you possibly done this?” Mother Theresa
smiled and quietly stated, “One person at a time”. Then there was Bill Wilson, Bill started
drinking in his early twenties and became a raging alcoholic. When he decided to stop
drinking, he wanted to help those around him, how did he do this? He started something
call Alcoholics Anonymous. We also have a woman who at 78 years old was filled with
arthritis. She gave up things she loved and started painting. One day an art collector
walked past a drug store, where one of her painting was in the window. That was the
beginning of years of notoriety for the famous painter Grandma Moses. Before she turned
101, she had created over one thousand paintings and received high awards. I am going
to end this blog today with an inspiring story of a woman in 2009, who in just three weeks
on media, her video performance was downloaded 180 million times. Susan Boyle was a
forty eight year old unknown from a little town in England. Yet, her life was instantly
changed overnight when she became a singing sensation in her late forties. No one
expected much out of this woman who walked out on stage of “Britain’s Got Talent” and
gave her life changing performance of “I Dreamed a Dream”.
Whether we are young. mid age or elderly, we each need to have a dream and hold on to
it. This dream can be small, it can be filled with love for someone else. Regardless of age,
one must be passionate about something. Each one of us is unique. God has given us
each a beautiful, fascinating, inner faith that we need only to believe in HIM. I also know
God helps those who help themselves 24/7. So, I promise from this day on, no more hiding
out from my “Higher Self” possibilities. I am truth now. I am love now. I am God’s divine
creation always.
Can I stop hiding out from my “Higher Self” today?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW
“Self Healing?” Blog #182
Can I reclaim the wisdom of my body, trusting in its messages?
Will I grow knowing every part of my being has wisdom and power and light?
Would my life be different IF I value my body as The Temple of God?
First, it is important to believe in the following statement,
IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE MY LIFE FULLY REGARDLESS OF PAST OR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
Every day is a NEW OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.
I refuse to believe I was “born defective”. I refuse to believe my negative thoughts are who
I am. I refuse to believe people, statements, media technology, control my moods or
dictate how I will think! NOTHING OUTSIDE OF ME HAS ANY INFLUENCE OVER MY STATE OF
MIND, EXCEPT MY INTERNAL ME! MY WHOLE FUTURE IS FILLED WITH HARMONY WHEN I EMBRACE I
AM MY OWN WORST ENEMY OR MY OWN BEST FRIEND. NO MORE DO I FEEL BOGGED DOWN
WITH ANY OTHER FALSE REALITY. TRUTH IS TRUTH. NO ONE CAN FABRICATE THE HONEST TRUTH.
Jesus Christ lives within ME. I am truth, I am whole health. I am honest happiness now.
So the trick to “Self Healing in my life is using this recipe every single day.
Wake up and Pray - Surround myself and insulate myself in the energy of Jesus Christ.
Do Ten Deep Breaths - Do this with a positive statement about self 3 - 4 times a day.
Surround self with Positivity - to stay strong - stay with positive ideas and positive
people a lot.
Eat healthy Food - Eat healthy food and drink lots of water throughout my 24/7 day.
Exercise Daily 24/7 - Do any Kind of exercise - walk, deep breaths - isometrics - it works!
There are so many stories out there today of people who refuse to stay healthy. They insist
on being filled with fear, dis-ease and sadness. I walk into the grocery store and I see
grocery karts filled high with chips, soda products, frozen dinners, ice cream and candy.
Fast food products are now “staples in the daily diet”. The more I see people indulge in
processed food, I wonder. Does anyone get to the point of asking self this, “what goes into
my body must come out!” What are each of us eating and drinking every single day?
First and foremost, NOTHING REPLACES GOOD OLD FASHIONED WATER. ONE CAN ALWAYS
ADD LEMON/LIME. It’s important to know that bulky foods, salads, grains, beans, bring
regular bowel movements daily. I IGNORE ADVERTISEMENTS GIVING BAND-AID CURES FOR
THIS. In order to have complete health in my body, I agree to do this,
I EMBRACE THE SACRED PART OF LIFE INSIDE MY BEING FIRST.
It’s important to realize the strongest force in the Universe is the TRIANGLE. So once I
acknowledge and agree with this, I see my Lord filling the middle of the triangle, my body
at one point of the triangle, and my mind at the other. The other point is spirit - the Holy
Spirit MUST BE PRESENT. My triangle makes me strong now.
The following poem sums up everything to do with Self Healing for my being.
OUR DEEPEST FEAR
By Marianne Wiliamson
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? YOU are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone!
As we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
AS we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.”
What a beautiful way to sum up the way to Self-healing, Trust in the light of Jesus Christ
that resides within me, for I am the Temple of God. It starts there.
Can I embrace the recipe for Self-Healing today?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW
“Deny Discipline?” Blog #181
Can I do something today my Future Self will thank me for?
How must I start my day so I depend on my “Higher Self”?
Do I want discipline to start my day or allow weakness to waste it away?
It really doesn’t matter what age I am. Every single day starts with daylight and ends with
darkness. I HAVE CHOICE. I have 24 hours in each day to do as I decide I want to. NO ONE
CAN MAKE ME DO DIFFERENTLY! Why does my life seem to be so hard sometimes?
Especially when I need internal answers right away, where are they?
When I awoke today I prayed this prayer, “Let me do your will today Lord, not my will.”
After my prayer, I got up and stretched with deep breaths. I stretch and deep breathe
again. I put my arms high in the air, deep breathing, again, “Let me do your will today,
Lord.” This has an immediate calming effect over my entire being. I feel myself let go of
my determined self-will. I DO NOT give in to stuff that pulls at me, all around me. For
then, HIS WILL, NOT my will, goes to work in my life today.
I SEE the “greater good of Gods will working in my life”.
“It is estimated 70,000 thoughts go through a persons brain each day”. IF only in this truth,
I capture the good thoughts and train my brain to stay in positive mode, I silently EXPRESS
GRATITUDE FOR MY LIFE, THANKING GOD FOR THE GOOD THINGS I HAVE BEEN GIVEN AS WELL AS
THE NEGATIVE SITUATIONS I HAVE HAD TO LEARN FROM. As far as the the people in my life, I
have a choice there too. I surround myself with positivity.
Today I WILL DO SOMETHING MY FUTURE SELF WILL THANK ME FOR. THINKING TO MYSELF,
HOW POWERFUL CAN I BE IF I NEVER DOUBT MYSELF AGAIN.
To deny discipline in my life, gives me an empty shell of nothingness. I drift back and forth
inside a sea of doubt, denial and discontent. Slowly a process of learning to LOVE MYSELF,
begins again.
NO OTHER PERSON CAN DO THIS FOR ME. I MUST LEARN DISCIPLINE MYSELF TODAY. Every
person alive needs to bring in a “disciplined routine daily”.
I have a friend who contracted a rare sickness. She went to the doctor and he did many
tests on her. Extremely puzzled, he found no way to give her medicine for what he did not
know would work. Ironically, her husband told her, “I guess the only thing left for you to do
is dance. Dance as if your life depended on it.” She did this exact thing. She went out and
joined a “Zoomba Dance Class”. This is a woman in her late seventies. Less than a year
later, her doctor scratched his head in amazement, “What have you done? Your disease is
in remission! Whatever you are doing, don’t stop!” he said. Smiling, the woman told him, “I
discipline myself each and every other day to dance. I joined a Zoomba dance class and I
love it! This older woman is healthy, happy and having fun now as well! Not a moment to
be bored.
I can read a good book, I can do various art projects, I can go outside and exercise and
walk. I find time to learn something new to cook for myself. Above all, I SAY POSITIVE
WORDS to my inner self all day long. I am disciplining a new way of thought. In the car
driving, I can learn isometrics and tighten my muscles, practice deep breathing ten times
in the morning, noon and night. KEEP THINKING THOSE POSITIVE THOUGHTS I REFUSE to be
grouchy and unkind. At times in the day, I may get caught between my lower self and my
Higher Self. Maybe someone said something mean, and my brain shifts into a “lower dark
gear”, this is MY CHALLENGE. It is up to me to take in ten deep breaths, go outside, walk a
bit, keep deep breathing and say, “This too shall pass”. With the help of God, I lift myself up
to my “Higher Self” and continue to learn my lessons for today.
To release discomfort, I release unloving thoughts about any person I know.
The wall that exists between the lower self and the HIGHER SELF is DISCIPLINE.
Every single one of us alive has self worth, a need for self love, a purpose for living. So
Now I agree to set up boundaries with my peers - and abide by MY principles.
My TRUE MISSION SURFACES when I no longer deny Discipline. I SEARCH FOR MY PURPOSE.
I embrace my Higher Self and bring DAILY DISCIPLINE Into my LIFE NOW.
Praying, do I push away lower Self or invite in Discipline now?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW