How you see it

Some people are always complaining because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses.

Alphonse Karr

It's all about perspective ! 

Help

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

Tenzin Gyatso

I

If you aren't willing to help someone out of ther situation, then don't talk about how bad it is for them. If you are not praying for them, quit talking about them.

If you cannot pay someone that is going through a tough time a visit or give them a call, then don't  engage in the gossip of discussing them all in the name of pointing out right from wrong.

Bottom line: it isn't helping, it's hurting them.

Pray instead! 

Crossroads

Crossroads are where your will meets God's and you struggle with the decision of self or the God-way. 

The more we talked yesterday at "the discussion", it seemed like a lot of us are in this exact same place; and we are all fully aware of the difference in the two wills. 

The challenge is after much prayer, "do we choose our will and hope that God blesses us along the way?" Or "do we wait on God's direction and take that path instead?" Or "are they one and the same?"

The good news is that we serve a God who has given us free will; and with this free will, we are and do make decisions solely based on our feelings, prayers, perspectives and gut. Is God there? Absolutely! And what's even more exciting is that God loves us so much that He doesn't leave or forsake us; so, of we chose the wrong path, He is still with us to guide us back to the promise. 

Make decisions with peace, prayer and trust in God. Best way to live ;)

Life goes on

• “In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” - Robert Frost

Things happen. People grow apart. You change. Love happens. Babies are born. People come and go. Regrets creep in. Guilt, sure. Victory comes along. Breakthrough is real. And so on, and so on. 

What never changes is that life happens...and you learn to roll with it in joy and happiness. 

Give it your very best ...

Friends in need

"A friend is one who walks in when others walk out" 

-Walter Winchell

It doesn't matter how often you get a phone call, text, visit or email; but what does matter is when. 

For some of us, having a lot of people around us gives us some sense of security; some of us prefer a few and some don't necessarily need anyone around for validation......and then some or most of us fall into one of these categories for others.

Unfortunately, some friendship relationships are based on need; while some stand firm on trust and love. It takes experience in a friendship relationship to know which type you are in. 

Are you or do you have the "part of the crowd" friend(s)? Or the "I can always trust you" friend? because when it's all said and done, the popularity gets thrown out the window. Bottom line, when you need a friend, you are really and truly in need of a good one. 

Challenges

“Don’t confuse your path with your destination, just because it’s stormy now, doesn’t mean you aren’t headed for sunshine.”

The trying period is the in-between stage. The moment between your promise and the answer. What do you do? How do you reason? Where do you place your faith? When do you identify and embrace the big picture? 

I heard a preacher say "your problems have an expiration date". Meaning, they don't last forever and there is a promise on the other side. 

Once you understand this process, your expectations wouldn't be so cloudy; your future wouldn't be so blurry and your present moments certainly won't feel so challenging. 

Criticism

“Some people are brought into your life to be mirrors, to show you behaviors and habits that need to change.” -Mandy Hale

It takes being reflective and open to be able to receive these constructive criticisms when they do come.

It's good to be checked often; that way we don't feel so right all the time :)

Happy Friday good people! 

Hand, Clay & Wheel

In our discussion yesterday, we found that often times, there is a place where we get to when we know that God is doing something in our lives but we really don't know what it is. We feel the pull, the pruning, the challenge, the disappointment, the uneasiness, the fear, the pain.....but we don't know what it all leads to.

Imagine yourself in the potters hand and His hands on you - molding and shaping you into something. It isn't quite visible yet what that something is but it's in the works. Only the potter knows what He is doing.  

However, as the clay on the wheel, our job is to surrender to the potters will; trust in the motion of the wheel, believe that what we will turn out to be is nothing but good and rest in the knowing that God is the greatest Creator and has never failed in His works, and has our best interest at heart. Always know that He will never leave us nor forsake us -and that ladies, is the great promise! 

The sooner we get this, the better we get in challenging times and the stronger we become overall. 

Free

“Don’t use the past as an excuse to miss out on your future.” -Alan Cohen

It is in the past, it's over with, it's where it needs to be, it is yesterdays problem.....and tiday, you are free, alive, victorious, focused, smart, delivered, unique and beautiful.

Don't drag those negative and depressing days along. It's too heavy and bothersome! 

Walk in total freedom.

Something else

“Sometimes there are things in life that aren’t meant to stay. Sometimes change may not be what we want. Sometimes change is what we need.”

It takes maturity and peace of mind to know when something just isn't working out any longer; and having the strength to walk away - no matter what.

Never settle for the now, and take the emotional, verbal, physical or mental abuse all in the name of having something - whether it's a job, a relationship or a place to stay. 

What's best for you is your sanity and growth and if your current situation isn't moving you towards that, then it might be time to prayerfully excuse yourself and your bright and promising future away from the temporary oppression.

Just a thought....

Right or wrong

I present myself to you in a form suitable to the relationship I wish to achieve with you - Luigi 

Everyone does this in a relationship. We only give to the relationship what we want to get out of it. This isn't necessarily a negative thing. It can really be positive if we give truly of what we can and feel the other person deserves and needs. But if we only pour in what we want, then we will only get back what that brings. 

Every relationship/agreement/commitment will automatically be withdrawn from wherever we deposited the time, effort, attention, patience, grace, loyalty, faithfulness, compassion, love, money, and so on or the lack thereof.

Determine within yourself if you are in the right or wrong relationship. It'll do you good to know now. 

For the better

Almost all of our sorrows spring out of our relations with other people - Arthur Schopenhauer

This statement is very true! The way we act, think, react, respond, feel, practice ...all comes from somewhere that has/had to do with how or what someone else has done to us. Whether we want to admit this or not, it's right! 

Maybe you are one of those super strong personalities that believes "there is nothing about someone else that can change how I feel" or "my attitude isn't based on what someone else said to me" or "I don't need them to make me feel any certain way". 

The truth of the matter is that yes, you don't sway back and forth based on someone else's mood BUT the way you are today is correlated to a direct or indirect action to you from another person. 

And even if you are on the other side of the spectrum, you are also affected by this because you may well know that your make-up in this season is a result of some action or emotion from someone else.

Whatever the case may be, figure out within yourself the best way to overcome it (if it is not for the better already).

It's possible :) 

The Discussion

Hello ladies,

Righteous Woman has a new ministry called "The Discussion".

It's a conference call for all women who want to be real, open, share, learn, pray, listen, relate to each other and much more. 

You are officially invited to call in and be a part! 

Invite others and lets change the world together ...one woman at a time! :)

Conf call#: 712-432-1500

Access code: 1026847#

When: Every Wednesday

Time: 7:30-8am (PST)

It takes attention

A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them - Liberty Hyde Bailey

And so it is with everything that we want to grow progressively. Relationships, friendships, etc. If we want things to change for the better, or to be different, then the remedy is time, attention, effort and extra TLC. 

Plan

Choice of attention - to pay attention to this and ignore that - is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be.

Be careful what thoughts you entertain. Be it positive or negative, it'll definitely lead you somewhere. 

The plan is to prepare yourself for where it takes you. No surprises 

This moment ...

Give yourself up to this moment. Dare to see it. Now look down at your feet; slip out of those invisible tethers. Then ask: Where would you take yourself right this moment if you walked toward your most heartfelt dream? What would your life look like? What would your body look and feel like? What level of energy would you have? What might be your favorite activity? What would your daily life include? Imagine happiness -- the sweet glow of inner contentment, the way it tastes and smells and feels - Chris Downie

Happy Monday folks!!! 

Crossroad

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Those who look outside, dream. Those who looks inside, awaken.“

Carl Gustav Jung 

There will come moments when you are at some major crossroads of your life and will be faced with making strong decisions that can either better you or slow you down a few more years.

Crossroads are life-changing moments that require prayer, wisdom, lots of thought, cautious conversations, silent listening moments, mental stability and a sense of peace. Without these, one can make emotional decisions that can't be reversed. 

If ever found here, it's better to apply the steps above before voicing a decision; because the worst thing to do is make the wrong move out loud! 

Big impact

“I never look at the masses as my responsibility; I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time - just one, one, one. So you begin. I began - I picked up one person. Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand....The same thing goes for you, the same thing in your family, the same thing in your church, your community. Just begin - one, one, one.“

- Mother Teresa

It's the little things we do for the "little" people around us that make them big people one day with big hearts that you once planted a small seed in.

Pay attention to those little life changing moments; don't despise them. For they make all the difference in the world. 

Service

Do all the good you can, and make as little fuss about it as possible - Charles Dickens

Doing something good for someone else is all about you bring selfless and giving service. It's not to criticize the situation while expressing how much of a better job you would have done; or to self-evaluate the process, looking for obvious mistakes. 

Giving someone your time takes patience, no complaining, and sacrifice; because the ultimate goal is for you to step out of your comfort zone and do something good for them. It certainly may or will not be the way you do things but as you serve them, you'll find their happiness surface. 

Perfection

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it - Maya Angelou 

Just because you failed in one or a few things, doesn't qualify you as a failure. 

Perfection doesn't exist; it's just not of this world. However, the striving to be perfect is doable but also leaves room for little mistakes and hiccups here and there. 

Learn from those imperfect moments, as they make you stronger next time. Listen to your inner strength for it'll keep you fueled for your life's lessons.