Moving forward

In order to move on, you must understand why you felt what you felt and why you no longer need to feel it. Knowing that what's done is done and what's gone is gone. 

It’s okay to look back and think of fond memories but keep moving forward. 

Moving on doesn’t mean you forget about things, it just means you have to accept what happened and continue living.

And if it's about someone....just because you miss them doesn’t mean you need them back in your life. Missing is just a part of moving on.

Always remember that once you’ve made the decision to move on and forward, looking back in regret is neither healthy nor helpful. You will never find your future in the rear view mirror. 

Tell....

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee - http://bible.com/1/mrk.5.19.kjv

It's always like this: when God performs a miracle and makes an impossible situation possible, He always says to go tell......

There are people in your sphere of influence that are/were fully aware of what hardship you faced or trial you suffered or situation you are in.

It is exactly what to do when He saves you from the situation, for you to give the entire glory to Him. Why? Because it draws all men unto Him. 

Pay it forward

I was at Starbucks yesterday and the person in front of me at the drive thru paid for half of my order. 

I returned the favor to the order of the person behind me.

Apparently, at that particular location, the act of "paying it forward" was going on all day.

Think you can do something similar? 

Passing through

You may think that in life, a lot of things happen to you along the way. The truth is, in life, you happen to a lot of things along the way - unlisted 

If this is true, then what impacts are we making? 

Covenant

Start every relationship in God, keep it grounded in His word, allow Him to guide you, call on Him when help is needed, place Him at every corner, nook and area of your covenant. 

But remember, both of you have to surrender to this way or a solo battle will be very lonely and difficult to fight. 

Overcoming

Overcoming evil with good is going above and beyond for someone when the world expects you to react in your carnal nature.....especially when it's someone that has wronged you and hasn't been remorseful yet....

Yes, them.....be good to them anyway....because the bible tells us so.  

Pride

I was watching a movie yesterday and heard this quote "your pride is depriving the very possibility of God doing something in your life".

That is so true!!! 

We have made ourselves believe that we can do all things in our strength. We've taken so many classes, we have so many degrees under our belts, lots of letters at the end of our titles, read lots of books etc... And somehow, these things have puffed us up to a fake self-confidence that we no longer need God's help.

Lord help us that our pride doesn't bring us to a fall. 

Where it lay...

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay - Matt 28:6

For some of us, it's not believable enough to hear that God has done something big and miraculous; for some reason, we also want the full evidence of it. We want to see it, so that we know that we know that we know that it absolutely, really is a divine miracle.

Lord, help us to believe as we hear and take your word for what it is; without doubt, reservation or additional confirmation. 

Amen!

Celebrate

One Righteous Woman said few days ago to celebrate your heart on valentines day...thanks Lori Knight! 

It is so true! This day doesn't need to be just for the ones dating or married; it is a day of love. 

Love your heart for what it has gracefully endured, love your strength for how it has fought for; love your soul for how it has surrendered in trust; love your life for how it has submitted wholeheartedly; love your passion for its different expressions; love your heart for the transformation it's gone under; love your God for the renewing, and the mending, and the second chances, and the embracing, and the restoring, and the unconditional love that He is always giving. 

Happy Valentine's day Righteous Woman! 

What's it worth?

What do you own that is the last of what you've got....it's worth everything to you....and very difficult for you to let go of or give away?

We can learn from  the woman with the alabaster box (Matt 26); who had nothing to lose and nothing worth holding on to. She gave all she owned to a Savior who she came to know as the One who provides .... with absolutely no hesitation.

A great lesson... 

Small group

Calling all ladies!!!!!!

We are a week away from our small group meeting. So excited!!!

Tuesdays at 6:30pm....(share the news)

Looking forward to spending the next few weeks growing together!

Why do life alone, when you can have lots of like-ladies praying with/for you, cheering you on,  laughing with you, encouraging you and standing firmly with you? #tfc

Thoughts

Every mind idea eventually leads to somewhere. It is our responsibility to steer it towards the right path. 

It is extremely important that our thoughts are clean, safe, creative and productive; as one day, they may need to be translated into a series of actions.

Happy Friday

Happy Friday ladies! I pray you have a blessed day and a fantastic weekend! 

Following instruction

We see in the book of Exodus where God instructed Moses on how to build the Tabernacle. Though the details were extremely precise, Moses did exactly as he was instructed. He didn't add to it or take anything from it...and as a result, the very intention of God, the architect, which was a place o worship and the fullness of His glory was always in the Tabernacle. 

May we be like so. Where we don't try to alter the work of God...where we believe and take it for what it is.... Always! 

Increase

"He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound] (Isaiah 40:29 AMP)."

"Increase is not all about you having more, it's about you becoming more. When we say that God is a God of increase, there are many areas of our lives this applies to. Some situations we go through in life seem as if they leave us powerless and feeling like we are about to physically faint. God has promised to give power to the faint, and increase the strength of the weary. Today, release your faith, and set your hope on God empowering you to overcome feeling powerless, and increasing and renewing your strength like that of an eagle. It's time to mount up, not lay down!" Bishop Carl Smith

Anxiety

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus - http://bible.com/1/php.4.6.kjv

It is difficult because we are human but we are in this world but not of it. In that knowledge, we do not wrestle with worldly systems and practices but we pray unto our Father for divine wisdom; we do not worry about tomorrow's provision but we giveback what we have of our hearts and allow God to provide for us what we need. 

Anxiety is not of God, trust is! 

A true friend vs an associate

Friendship is one of the most valuable assets one can have.  The bible states in Proverbs 18:24 that "there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother". It also shares that "bad associations spoil useful habits" in 1 Corinthians 15:33.  So, what is the difference between a true friend and an associate?  Should your mate be your friend first?  Do you know how to make and keep a good friend?  If you are young should your parents have a say in who you are friends with?  Are you friends with someone for the right reasons?  Are you friend worthy?  And are your friends worth having?  Tough but real questions. Definitely worth pondering on....

Hardwork

“How long should you try? Until.” ~ Jim Rohn

Work Ethic seems to be universally accepted as one of the most important factors contributing to one’s success. The harder you work – the more successful you’ll be. “Do a bunch by lunch…be a winner by dinner!” ~ Unknown.

And in this day and age, with so many things spiraling out of control and leaving us in tougher and tougher economic situations, it can feel good to get a grip and take charge over at least one aspect of our current situation that can have a significant impact on our future success. Although not necessarily easy to control, with the right mindset, and the right map, you’re sure to get to where you want to be a lot faster than from laying down, eating leftovers, and watching your favorite TV shows. 

Remember, “The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work – if you won’t.” ~ Unknown.

We’re not saying that breaks are bad. But, when you can align your life passion with purpose and persistence, the lines between ‘working’ and ‘playing’ dissolve and become one ever flowing part of your life. 

Find your passion, work extraordinarily hard on it (without really ‘working’), and take control of your future successes! 

Work

The difference between hard work and working hard is when you actually apply your hands to it. 

You can either stand off to the side and spectate and even say you are not cut out for this or it's too much for you to handle OR you can get your hands in the work and be a part of the legacy. 

The choice is yours ....

Love

..... and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

http://bible.com/1/matt 19.19.kjv

We often see this scripture with the emphasis on doing everything in our power to absolutely love our neighbor as the bible says to..........As we should. :)

But, we can really only love them as we love ourselves first. 

Right?? 

Spend time knowing how much God loves you, embrace and love it....then use it as your reference to extend the same to others.

Hard work

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied - proverbs 13:4 

No doubt about it, hardwork pays off every single time!!!! 

What's in your hand?

A fellow Righteous Woman said to me a few months ago "what is in your hand?"

She addressed that question to me because she was encouraging me to step out and do what I am called to do and that all I need is in my hands.

Some, and I hope all of us have passions and desires and things we are excited about doing. And if you are like me and it doesn't require a lot, as in its second nature to you, then, it's also in your hands.

Be encouraged, as I was encouraged and step out into your calling. There is just not enough time to hold back anymore! 

Hanging on - for how long???

We pray and pray and pray for a sign, a signal, something to show up so we can move in a certain direction.

Sometimes, our prayers are self-centered and has nothing to do with God's

will.

Maybe the answer you need has already been revealed but you are still hanging on for the answer you want 

How long will that be? 

Daily

Make it a daily act to encourage at least one person. You never know what the person next to you is searching for. You never know what a little bit of encouragement, mercy, favor, grace can do for a person in desperate need. 

Bless someone today! 

Proud

Don't be ashamed of who God has called you to be. Don't hide behind it, don't water it down and definitely don't had suppress it.

Be proud of the work God has done in you and do your best to be confident in it 

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is when you take something someone has done to you and you crumble it up like a piece of paper and you throw it in the garbage - just as The Lord does with us. 

He never speaks of it again, never brings it up again, doesn't torment us with it.... He truly absolutely totale really forgets it.

This is our example....

Be

Don't be a people pleaser. Be a God pleaser!

More and better rewards in doing so.

Blessing

I encourage you to bless The Lord at all times. Let His praise and worship be continually in your mouth.

When things aren't going well, when things are great, when it all doesn't make any sense whatsoever..... try worshipping. Not just for what He can do (which He can and will) BUT for who He is (which He forever will be. 

Our Great Counselor who is also the Prince of Peace; a Lover of our souls and a Friend that's Mighty to save; He has Compassion and is a Strong tower; He is Worthy, Righteous and the Holy One; the Everlasting Father AND in all His deity, He still hears me whenever I call.

Now, that's love! 

Big and small

What are you believing God for? How big is it and how many little beginnings are you willing to put in? 

It's ok to think big but we all have to start somewhere....small.

You may know where you want to be in a year, five or ten years BUT it doesn't mean you are ready for that promise - you still have to go through the process.

Dive in and enjoy your small beginnings. They'll get you somewhere big....soon 

Trust

I remember an old worship song we used to sing "when Jesus says yes, nobody can say no". We literally sang that line over and over and over again, for as long as we wanted to. Back then, while that sounded extremely repetitious, it was and still is totally worth reminding! 

Jesus has the final say! 

Fight

Know in your heart that every battle or stronghold you face, fight, fear or win is not carnal. 

(For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Eph.6.12.)

With that understanding, fight not with the carnal but with your spiritual strength. Pray, fast, seek counsel, hear and listen to what God has to say over you and your situation AND let that and that alone be the roadmap to your victory.

Commit

Commit yourself unto God daily. Set yourself apart from evil and wrongdoings. Make it a plan to do what is right and protect what is good.

Remember that you are fearfully and wonderfully made; therefore, be of good behavior.

Abstain from fleshly desires that only lead you to destruction. Those momentary desires will fade away but heavenly blessings are everlasting.

Blessed

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

http://bible.com/1/mat.5.10.kjv

Character

It's pleasing to the heart to know that God's promises are yes and amen.

When He makes a promise, He keeps it. 

What about us? When we make a commitment to God, friends, family, neighbors and colleagues, can we be trusted to keep our word? 

Not only is this a trust issue, it also speaks of our character. Say what we mean, mean what we say, stand by our word, deliver as promised, be a good stewart, etc. 

Remember that we always leave an impression. So, choose what kind we will like to leave behind 

Your work

Whatsoever you desire to create with your own hands; or showcase of your work; or present as your passion, do it with great preparation, practice and timing. 

Knowing that your handprint, your reputation, your legacy will be tested, and tried; present with excellence! 

Happy New Day

Happy New Year Righteous Woman!

Take today as a brand new day, and not necessarily a brand new year. Stay focused as you always have. Don't drag your emotions into setting unrealistic goals and unattainable resolutions...all in the name of a new year.

I encourage you to take this day as another day and seek God with all your heart. Go after His will, direction and way; and trust that He will carry you through it all. 

One day at a time ladies...one day at a time...

Day

Make the best of your day but be sure your best is aligned with God's best for you.

Don't settle for less than you deserve 

Moving forward

When we make a decision to follow God and His way, there are certain things that we HAVE HAVE HAVE to move away from.  These are usually things in the past that may have manifested itself into things in the future. They could be insecurities, bad habits, compromise etc or whatever it is for you.

When we pray for God to be present and move in our hearts, we have to be prepared for what He is saying. We have a habit to secretly steer Him towards our own feelings and way; because we want the outcome to be what we want it to be and then we interpret our actions as God's will. Not so ;(

We have to change our prayer - and start seeking God for His way, His direction, His will AND then prepare to change.....

Be humble

1 Peter 5:6 KJV

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

Being humble = servitude, selflessness, submission, non-complaining spirit, gratitude, thankfulness, sincere focus and motivation, prayer, compassion etc...

Are you up to it?? 

Help!!!

It's always difficult trying to get someone out of a tough situation.  You try and try and then you try again with your very best, and things still stay the same or at least they seem that way.

The first thing is they have to realize the problem and then they must want to change. If they do not want to change, then for you it'll be as "leading a horse to the water". You can get the horse there but you can't make them drink. 

BUT you can pray for them :) - this is the easy part! 

Outlook

Nine people were discussing a business problem. The challenge they were facing was not there fault; it was circumstances beyond their control that resulted in this problem. But the problem needed to be resolved. 

The problem was identified, and they were discussing what they were going to do about it. "What will we do," asked one of them. One person immediately said, "There is nothing we can do." That response was unacceptable to the rest of the group and acted as a spark of action. "Yes, there is something we can do!" replied two of them in unison. It was at that point that their minds started to work on coming up with solutions. And, a solution they did find!

We are all faced with challenges at some point in our lives, challenges that we did not create. Challenges that happened beyond our control. The difference is how we respond to these challenges; and what determines our outlook.

Christmas

A very Merry Christmas Day to you Righteous Woman!!!

Be safe, enjoy the family, celebrate The Lord and always remember the reason for the season and why we honor it so.....

Values

Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want - Marsha Sinetar 

If your morals and values are strong, grounded and deep, you'll move along ok. It won't be easy but it'll be worth it in the end. 

What Is Your Love Language?

Practically Speaking (using a love language): 

Words of affirmation: In the holiday spirit, write a letter to a close friend or family member who you are not able to keep up with as much anymore. Remind him or her of the qualities that made your relationship dear. Fill them in on how your life is going, and request that they do the same for you. 

Acts of service: If someone close to you hasn't wrapped gifts yet, offer to assist him or her in the process. Not only will it be fun to spend time together, but your assistance will be appreciated, especially if his or her love language is Acts of Service.

Receiving gifts: Choose a gift for each of your children that they may open the morning of Christmas Eve. This will help them cope with their bubbling anticipation and let them enjoy a small part of Christmas early.

Quality time: If possible, try to have Christmas dinner with more than your immediate family this year. This will allow you and the others you eat with to enjoy not only a special dinner but also to interact with people who you may not normally be able to converse with meaningfully. 

Obedience, another act of worship

Good article on obedience

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. In the story of the Ten Commandments, we see how important the concept of obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26–28 sums it up like this: "Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed."

In the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience.

While the Bible places strong emphasis on obedience, it's important to remember that believers are not justified (made righteous) by our obedience. Salvation is a free gift of God, and we can do nothing to merit it.

True Christian obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for the grace we have received from The Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every moment, every chance, every challenge, every test, every day is another opportunity to try being obedient again. It gets easier and becomes much more natural 

My God has been and is STILL good

Just thinking of all the obstacles that I, my family and friends have come through and how God has been with us all of the way.

Sometimes we get caught up on what's happening now and we get forgetful and blind to the fact that the same God we are crying to now for help is the same God that has worked in major ways in our lives and has always been faithful. Never late, always on time. 

Praise and thanksgiving can actually bring us through our tough times .... Try it!!! 

Commitment

Commitment is an act, not a word - Jean-Paul Sartre

Commitment is like faith. Unless you are willing to put some work into it, your word is dead. 

Without commitment, you cannot have depth or volume in anything, whether it's in a relationship, being involved in a business or taking up a hobby. 

Some of us choose not to commit, so the chance of withdrawing from something is open and the reason to hesitate is a near option. 

You cannot be partially or fully committed to a person or anything until your efforts are made obvious, visible and measurable. 

It's just the way it is.... 

Rest

Sometimes, we feel at war with ourselves. We take ourselves into an inner dialogue that can be overly energetic, and extremely cruel to our emotions, and very unsettling to our minds. 

We feel a lack of stillness, and we get very restless. In moments like these, the best remedy for internal conflict is simply reminding ourselves about peace. God's peace....and how it passes all understanding. 

God's peace brings calm to our storm and rest to our souls. Allow Him to take your burden on; because His burden is light and His yolk is easy. Rest in His love. 

Happy Sunday!!!

Approach

O come, let us sing unto the Lord : let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms - psa.95.1

We have different reasons and times that we pray. Some of us call on God when we are in trouble; some of us when we have a need; some of us when we have no other way out; and some of us when we have exhausted all our options. 

Whatever your method is, try something different this time around. Try going to God with thanksgiving: thanking Him for the things He has done for you and the people around you, for the life He has given you, and for the grace He has extended to you. 

Change your approach and watch what happens 

Approach

O come, let us sing unto the Lord : let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms - psa.95.1

We have different reasons and times that we pray. Some of us call on God when we are in trouble; some of us when we have a need; some of us when we have no other way out; and some of us when we have exhausted all our options. 

Whatever your method is, try something different this time around. Try going to God with thanksgiving: thanking Him for the things He has done for you and the people around you, for the life He has given you, and for the grace He has extended to you. 

Change your approach and watch what happens 

Following His lead

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

http://bible.com/1/psa.143.10.kjv

Time

Personal growth and maturity is a part of life. 

All through life, we deal with a variety of physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual changes. These changes make life difficult.

Time is your life story’s ultimate challenge - one you cannot defeat. However it is the time remaining that offers the greatest promise for us all. 

It is what you do with the time that you have and the people you love and care for that matters most 

Value

“The woman who does not value herself, cannot value anything or anyone.”― Ayn Rand (revised)

What you give out, comes from what you have on the inside. What is on the inside is as a result of the experiences you had from the outside world. 

In all of life's ups and downs that we face, if none of them add value to us, then we certainly can be faced with the dilemma of appreciating anything else around us. Remember, you can only show what you know. 

If this is something that you recognize in your life and you struggle with, the best way to overcome it is to seek God and know His value of you. Know your worth in God and it'll guide you through seeing the goodness in others. 

Be good

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him - col.3.17

For everything or anything you do for anyone, never do it with the condition of "getting something in return" or in the spirit of "keeping up with your good works". Be good, because it is the right thing to do. Be good because God requires that. Be good because someone else needs it. 

A woman's strength

Article..... (Please read) 

The strength of a woman is carrying the burden of family without the expectation that someone will feel her pain or cry her tears.

The strength of a woman is the first one to wake up and the last to go to bed.

The strength of a woman is to pretty and doll up all the masks she has to wear in order to survive.

The strength of a woman is crying herself to sleep at night then embracing you in the morning with a hug and a smile.

The strength of a woman is like my mother: a woman who says she’s okay when you can tell she’s in pain, a woman who smiles when the going gets tough and a woman who finds laughter after crying.

The strength of a woman is to raise a child she does not know.

The strength of a woman hears a child’s cry and knows exactly what they want.

The strength of a woman is courage and independence.

The strength of a woman is doing whatever it takes to survive.

The strength of a woman is the backbone that holds everyone together
. . . behind every strong man there is a strong woman.

The strength of a woman is her ability
to hold her tongue when her significant other is wrong; to stop her children from misbehaving with a look in her eye; to pick herself up and dust herself off
to make her family smile in the midst of a storm; to multi-task and adapt to different situations; and to swallow her pride.

The strength of a woman is her unconditional love for her children and others.

The strength of a woman is to be a peacemaker.

The strength of a woman is to be able to feel things no one else can.

The strength of a woman is to be able.

The strength of a woman is having faith in God, for she knows God always has her back.

Helping others when they are in need,
always there to take the lead. Suffering hard times not for long, because her will is very strong.

Makes you happy with lots of jokes,
most importantly they are jokes of hope.

Her colors are beautiful—scarlet red—
lots of blessings upon her head.

The strength of a woman we’ll always know, because her strength will always show.

On the day of thanksgiving ....

Shared by another "righteous woman" (thanks Carla C) - Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

"When we fail to thank God for the great things He has done in our lives, the Bible says, "our minds are darkened to the truth." 

On the other hand, gratitude is the most effective way to deepen our heart and mind to the fact that we are the object of God's unconditional love. Gratitude helps us to honor God as God. It gets us up in the morning with praise on our lips. It awakens our senses to see the fingerprint of God in our lives. It helps you to get through the day no matter how you feel. It ushers you right into the very presence of God. Who would have ever thought a simple thank you would have the power to go so far? This morning, let's practice our attitude of gratitude by giving God praise!" Bishop C. Carl Smith

"Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened." Romans 1:21 AMP

Commit already....

Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism - Anon  Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than words.  It is consciously making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, and year after year after year.  When you make a commitment to a person/relationship or a person in a relationship, you are saying out loud that your heart, will, mind and emotions will choose to make an investment of your attention and energy into that relationship more profoundly because you now experience ownership of it. This is a very strong sign that you are in it for the long run....

Giving thanks again

The next time you see a report card or graded homework assignment of your child's/niece/nephew/god-child/cousin/ or friends child with high marks, congratulate them for his or her efforts. 

Not only will it provide a positive reinforcement for the value of hard work and help him or her recognize his or her intelligence; it also gives them a certain sense of peace that you see them, love them and are grateful for them too. 

Giving thanks

As we prepare to celebrate the spirit of thanksgiving this week, focus on what's really important to you. Concentrate on what matters most and spend most of your time on it. 

Be it your biological family or your adopted family; give them the time they deserve.

Let the holidays begin! 

Being grateful

In the spirit of giving thanks; think on your earlier years. 

Remember that movie or TV show that you and your sibling, parent, or best friend enjoyed watching when growing up. See if there are re-runs, or schedule a movie night on an evening to watch it with him or her. 

Afterwards, reminisce about why you enjoyed it growing up and share which parts you now enjoy more as an adult.

Most importantly, share on the memories that made those moments special.

Tis the season to be grateful... 

On our own ...

Don't give up before you try. But if you do try and it doesn't work, then it might not be worth the time.  

The biggest part is knowing when and also knowing to trust God in the midst of it all. Sometimes, we do things in life on our own and we don't pray on it or seek godly counsel about it; and so we walk through life handling it all alone and not knowing why it isn't working out the way it ought to be. 

Remember to keep God at the beginning, center and at the end of all things that concern you and He will truly guide and direct you AND if needed, will fight your battles for you.

No more lies

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all the people all the time. ~ Abraham Lincoln

It's just like how you can get away with some lies sometimes....depending on who you are lying to and about. However, at some point, not only will you not be able to keep track of your own story(ies), you'll find it difficult convincing people that have begun to put the pieces together....and they no longer add up.

Rule of thumb: just tell the truth all the time ;)

Trust

"Your reputation and integrity are everything. Follow through on what you say you’re going to do. Your credibility can only be built over time, and it is built from the history of your words and actions" - Maria Razumich-Zec

You do not need a lot of people around you to make this a true statement. Even a stranger to you can attest to this if they experience your good word, backed up with its strong action. 

People need people they can rely on and trust. 

Great stewards

Stewardship means being good managers of the resources that we have earned and that God has given us. As good stewards we know that when we choose to spend our time or money, there are always opportunities foregone. We consider our choices and we use our resources in keeping with our values and life mission.

Stewardship means that we weigh not only our own needs and desires but those of other people and future generations. We realize that none of us is a self-made person and that part of what we own is wealth that flows from others through us. We appreciate the natural resources, societal resources and financial resources that have been handed down to us by those that have gone before us and we are conscious of our own legacy and the price it carries for us to bring it to fruition. 

Great article, revised ** 

Wins

Victory is won not in miles but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more - unknown 

You may not get all your wins in one day, one project, one conversation, one sit-down meeting..... But you could win a little ground that'll help the next time around. 

Embrace those moments and try not to get ALL you are looking for at once. Those little wins add up to a really big one someday. 

Kindness

Surprise the people around you by doing something that they'll appreciate. For example, for your parents, do all of their yard work over an extended period of time when they're not home. Don't mention it to them unless they ask you if you did it. 

Or to your married friends with kids, plan to show up and babysit for them while they get a little date away. Or for your sister or brother that is going through a hard time, give them or help them with something you know will help remove some of the pain or stress. 

These acts of kindness will show them that you deeply appreciate them.

What matters most

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. ~ Mark Twain

So few people really live life to the fullest.  We get stuck in our ways and routines and just kinda coast through life, then something major happens to us or someone we love, and we start to think, “Is this all there is for me?”  “Is this all I’m capable of?”  Why wait for that moment to wake up? Live your life awake.  Live your life to the fullest!

If you don't, you will spend your latter years regretting a life spent on unimportant things. Enjoy you life with the things and people that matter. 

Happy Friday! 

Life and it's lessons

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens - Kahlil Gibran

Two totally different people can experience the exact same challenges in life; but could have opposite reactions as to what really happened and life for them thereafter. 

It is all about perception, how you see it (your ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through your senses) and the perspective (your own particular attitude or way of regarding something; your point of view, your frame of reference, your outlook and your interpretation)

Our life experiences teach us how to live and co-exist with others; and ultimately, we choose what life lessons we learn. Hopefully, we choose good ones ....

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Tough it out!

You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good - Jerry West

Those days that you don't feel like doing the work are the days that build your character and show your commitment to the work.

Without passion and/or commitment, it's easy to be unattached to what you do....and will result in no fruit. But if you set the temporary feelings aside, you can get lots done. 

Appreciate what you have

Problems in relationship occur because each person is concentrating on what is missing in the other person. – Wayne Dyer

Did you know that each time you struggle with your partner about something, you are struggling with yourself. I read somewhere that every fault you see in them touches a denied weakness in yourself. 

Why would you spend a whole lot of time pointing out weaknesses in your partner, when you could be enjoying them for who they are. 

Think about if the roles where flipped! Would you appreciate the constant bullying on your personality??  It's only fair and healthy to appreciate and praise the good in each other and pray for the not-so-good to get better :)  

Memories

We live in a world of quite a bit of self-centered and selfish people and folks who haven't learned yet to step outside of themselves and spend a little time with someone else. 

We also live in a world where people are hurting and need a little hello and encouragement, every once in a while.

Be the kind of person that never forgets to compliment your friends; because everyone needs it sometimes. Tell them how good-looking they are, how kind they are, how fun they are, how hardworking they are and watch their face light up with appreciation.

Remember, it is never what you do but how you make people feel that they will carry with them. 

Happy Friday!