Don't you feel at times that what you say and do does not really matter at all? It seems to me that our world tells us that the winners get all the glory and the rest of us get the sorrow of not being the winner. When we do something for our own enjoyment whether it is sports, art, music or some kind of hobby there seems to be somebody there to criticize us. They tell us that what we do just doesn't measure up to a professional standard. They make us feel like we should not be wasting our time if what we do does not make us money or earn us professional recognition. In their mind, we will never be a winner so we should just quit.
There are so many people who want to give us their opinion whether or not we want them to. Can we not just do things that we enjoy and love without the fear of not being good enough? In a contest, there is only one winner however if we are just having fun why should we worry about winning? Can we not just set back and relax and enjoy the things that we do without having any pressure or anxiety of not reaching somebody else's expectations?
In a contest there are winners but even if you lose and do your best and love what you do, can you really call yourself a loser? You are doing something that you love and in my eyes that makes you a winner. Many people do not even try.
If what we do inspires us and we can express those emotions through our activity, does that not make us feel happy? I know to do something that brings me happiness makes me feel like a winner.
All of us do need an outlet of some kind, a way to express yourself to the world. Whether or not we get encouragement, we should continue to do things that we love. We can let the activity that we do be our self-expression. Even without saying a word, we can show the world how we feel inside. We do not have to achieve greatness in order to enjoy that activity. Love what you do and be happy and be thankful and you will feel like a winner everyday.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 "Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot."
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Love, More than a Feeling
Is love more than a feeling? I believe it is. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," I doubt most of us would have warm feelings toward those who are hurting us in some way. Matthew 18:21,22 "Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." These verses show me that my love should have patience, endurance and not to give in to anger rather than just having a feeling of affection.
Jesus said to his apostles in John 14:21 "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." He also said to them in John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Jesus is telling us to love him and one another by our actions. What are the actions of love? 1Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." As we can see love goes beyond our feelings for each other. Love is the way we should be acting towards each other and not just the way we feel towards each other. God wants us to be kind and compassionate whether or not we feel like it.
Jesus said in Luke 6:27,28 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." Jesus wants us to be like his Father who shows love to everyone. Matthew 5:45 "so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." We must show our love by doing what is right towards everyone if we want God's approval. We cannot wait until we get a loving feeling to show our love. In every situation, we must ask ourselves, what would Jesus do? He would act with his love and do the right thing every time.
The apostle Paul encourages us to keep doing good. Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Jesus said to his apostles in John 14:21 "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." He also said to them in John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Jesus is telling us to love him and one another by our actions. What are the actions of love? 1Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." As we can see love goes beyond our feelings for each other. Love is the way we should be acting towards each other and not just the way we feel towards each other. God wants us to be kind and compassionate whether or not we feel like it.
Jesus said in Luke 6:27,28 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." Jesus wants us to be like his Father who shows love to everyone. Matthew 5:45 "so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." We must show our love by doing what is right towards everyone if we want God's approval. We cannot wait until we get a loving feeling to show our love. In every situation, we must ask ourselves, what would Jesus do? He would act with his love and do the right thing every time.
The apostle Paul encourages us to keep doing good. Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Monday, April 29, 2019
Choosing What We Need from Within
Choosing what we need from within is being spiritual complete in every situation. Imagine we have a beautiful fruit tree within our mind and each piece of fruit represents an emotion. One piece of fruit might represent joy and another love, there is one for peace and another for happiness. We could continue and say there is one for thankfulness and one for forgiveness and all we have to do is to reach out and take one if we are in need.
Choosing what we need from within is reaching for some happiness when we are sad. When our mind is troubled we will reach for the fruit of peace. If we have hate or guilt then we could use some to forgive and to forgive ourselves. 2 Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Through God's spirit within us, we have what we need to have strength, peace of mind, love, and self-control. All we have to do is to put our mind, our thoughts and our prayers towards that to which we want. We have to make the effort ourselves and not to wait on others for our answers.
You need to think about these questions. If you are alone who will forgive you? How will you find your love? Where will your joy come from? Can you be happy all by yourself? The answer is you can forgive yourself, you can find love within yourself and have joy and happiness. You do not have to depend on others to give you what you need. All these things are within your reach just put your mind to them and choose them. God has given you what you need.
God's word has instructed us to change the way we think. Ephesians 4:22-24 "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." If we place our trust in God and do his will our lives will change for the better. By listening to his words and doing them, our thinking will be lifted up to a higher place.
We need a better way to live our lives and the Bible gives us God's wisdom to do just that. The Bible has inspirational stories to lift up our spirits. In today's world, there is much negativity. Sometimes we do not have any uplifting events or stories to tell. We even have a hard time to think in a positive way. This is where reading the Bible will give us a different outlook on life. We can read about how Jesus and the apostles endure a difficult life and how they cope with it. We can pattern our lives after them and find our hope within this negative world.
Philippians 4:8,9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Choosing what we need from within is reaching for some happiness when we are sad. When our mind is troubled we will reach for the fruit of peace. If we have hate or guilt then we could use some to forgive and to forgive ourselves. 2 Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Through God's spirit within us, we have what we need to have strength, peace of mind, love, and self-control. All we have to do is to put our mind, our thoughts and our prayers towards that to which we want. We have to make the effort ourselves and not to wait on others for our answers.
You need to think about these questions. If you are alone who will forgive you? How will you find your love? Where will your joy come from? Can you be happy all by yourself? The answer is you can forgive yourself, you can find love within yourself and have joy and happiness. You do not have to depend on others to give you what you need. All these things are within your reach just put your mind to them and choose them. God has given you what you need.
God's word has instructed us to change the way we think. Ephesians 4:22-24 "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." If we place our trust in God and do his will our lives will change for the better. By listening to his words and doing them, our thinking will be lifted up to a higher place.
We need a better way to live our lives and the Bible gives us God's wisdom to do just that. The Bible has inspirational stories to lift up our spirits. In today's world, there is much negativity. Sometimes we do not have any uplifting events or stories to tell. We even have a hard time to think in a positive way. This is where reading the Bible will give us a different outlook on life. We can read about how Jesus and the apostles endure a difficult life and how they cope with it. We can pattern our lives after them and find our hope within this negative world.
Philippians 4:8,9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Friday, April 12, 2019
Don't Worry, Trust in God
Don't worry, trust in God for he is in total control. There is no government, nor powerful men that can change his plan for our world. What he has planned for us will come into being at his appointed time. Believe in God and give him all of your trust for he will never disappoint you. In our eyes, our world may look chaotic but God is guiding us every step of the way. If we were to live long enough we would see the return of his son, Jesus Christ and nothing in this world or universe can stop that from happening. It is God's will. So I say to you don't worry for you are in God's hands.
Do not let fear of current events overtake your emotions. Rest your hope in God for he will carry you through your troubles. When you fall he will catch you when you cry he will comfort you and when you are weak he will strengthen you with his spirit. God cares for you and he loves you. Tell God about your worries and your fears and trust in him to give you the answers that you need. Do not spend your time worrying about what you cannot control, some things are way out of your control and only God can handle it.
Release your anxiety and relax, believe in God's words and wisdom. Trust in God that he is doing the right thing every day in your life. Our doubts will drown us in an ocean of our troubles but to place our trust and our hope in God will rescue us and save our lives. I will walk with God in total trust. I can rest at night knowing that our world is in his loving hands. So don't worry and trust in God with your whole heart. Believe in his words.
Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
Thursday, April 4, 2019
The Breath of Life
What I like to do most is to find the truth about who we are. I look to find what we all have in common. A lot of people see divisions. They look at the world with their prejudice and bigotry. They preach about nationalism like it was their religion. I want to put aside all that and look at all of us as one people under God, who are equally loved by God.
Today, I want to focus upon what God gave Adam at the beginning to bring Adam to life. Genesis 2:7 "then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." The breath of life that God gave to us is common to all of us. We can not live without it, without we will die.
When do we really notice our breath? When we get ill and our nasal passages become blocked. When we do hard work or some sport where we run out of breath. Some people have panic attacks and their breathing becomes rapid. It seems to me, the only time we notice our breath is when something goes wrong with us. These occurrences of lack of breath show us that the way we breathe and how we breathe is important to us.
A professional athletic whether a runner, a weightlifter or a swimmer tries to control his breathing when doing his or her sport. A panic attack victim will try to control their shallow breathing with some deep breaths. When I am in an anxious situation, I try to calm myself by concentrating on my breathing rather than letting my anxiety take control. Controlled breathing can calm the mind. Our breath is a gift from God isn't a good idea to know how to use it in every situation.
I was reading about a therapy used on post-traumatic victims, especially veterans. These people have suffered the unimaginable. Their past thoughts bring back horrible images into their minds and because of that, they cannot see a hopeful future for themselves. The therapy that has been successful for them is called mindfulness. It focuses on the present moment only. It begins by calming the mind through proper breathing and thinking not on your past or your future by only on yourself and your environment in the present moment. Why, because you cannot change your past and you must change the way you think in the present to have a successful future. This all begins by learning how to breathe. Our breath not only keeps us alive but if we use it properly, we can live more happily.
Just something so simple as learning how to control your breath can make a big difference in your life. God's gift "the breath of life" may be a gift that we all should be taking a closer look at. Calming the mind in a chaotic world does have its benefits. Learning how to breathe during strenuous work or exercise can make your life easier. The breath of life is in all of us, maybe we should all take a moment to breathe and thank God for his wonderful gift.
Job 34:14,15 "If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, 15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust."
Today, I want to focus upon what God gave Adam at the beginning to bring Adam to life. Genesis 2:7 "then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." The breath of life that God gave to us is common to all of us. We can not live without it, without we will die.
When do we really notice our breath? When we get ill and our nasal passages become blocked. When we do hard work or some sport where we run out of breath. Some people have panic attacks and their breathing becomes rapid. It seems to me, the only time we notice our breath is when something goes wrong with us. These occurrences of lack of breath show us that the way we breathe and how we breathe is important to us.
A professional athletic whether a runner, a weightlifter or a swimmer tries to control his breathing when doing his or her sport. A panic attack victim will try to control their shallow breathing with some deep breaths. When I am in an anxious situation, I try to calm myself by concentrating on my breathing rather than letting my anxiety take control. Controlled breathing can calm the mind. Our breath is a gift from God isn't a good idea to know how to use it in every situation.
I was reading about a therapy used on post-traumatic victims, especially veterans. These people have suffered the unimaginable. Their past thoughts bring back horrible images into their minds and because of that, they cannot see a hopeful future for themselves. The therapy that has been successful for them is called mindfulness. It focuses on the present moment only. It begins by calming the mind through proper breathing and thinking not on your past or your future by only on yourself and your environment in the present moment. Why, because you cannot change your past and you must change the way you think in the present to have a successful future. This all begins by learning how to breathe. Our breath not only keeps us alive but if we use it properly, we can live more happily.
Just something so simple as learning how to control your breath can make a big difference in your life. God's gift "the breath of life" may be a gift that we all should be taking a closer look at. Calming the mind in a chaotic world does have its benefits. Learning how to breathe during strenuous work or exercise can make your life easier. The breath of life is in all of us, maybe we should all take a moment to breathe and thank God for his wonderful gift.
Job 34:14,15 "If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, 15all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust."
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Life Giving Love
I really have not given this concept of life-giving love much thought. How we are lost without love within our own lives. Love sustains us and pushes us forward by encouraging us to carry on. It lifts our spirits and gives us hope. All is not lost if we have love in our lives.
In selfishness, one takes without the consideration of another, no love is given from that selfish act. In giving your love, you care and are sensitive to a person's needs. You wish them well in their endeavors and lend a helping hand when you can. You care for that whole person and not from what you can get from them. You love them and help them to flourish rather than take advantage of them. Life-giving love is compassionate, kind and unselfish. It can breathe new life into a lost soul.
A pouring out of your love into the world is what our world needs. Love can heal a festering wound whereas hate will keep it open. A healing is needed badly within our world and only those with a loving heart can help those who are hurting. A giver of love is what the takers in this world is really looking for. They are looking for life's meaning and love can open that door. It can give them a direction to go in. They will be looking into the light rather than the darkness. In the light, they will see what was missing in their lives and it was love.
Find that spark of love within your own life. Start by thinking about someone you really care for and mentally wish them well. Project only good thoughts toward them and feel that warmth within yourself. Let the love you find within yourself soften your heart and let kindness and compassion take hold. Practice to be a better person. Let the old ways past away and a new you take over. Pray for others that they may find love and be changed by it. Love is life giving, for God created us from his love and God is love (1 John 4:8).
In selfishness, one takes without the consideration of another, no love is given from that selfish act. In giving your love, you care and are sensitive to a person's needs. You wish them well in their endeavors and lend a helping hand when you can. You care for that whole person and not from what you can get from them. You love them and help them to flourish rather than take advantage of them. Life-giving love is compassionate, kind and unselfish. It can breathe new life into a lost soul.
A pouring out of your love into the world is what our world needs. Love can heal a festering wound whereas hate will keep it open. A healing is needed badly within our world and only those with a loving heart can help those who are hurting. A giver of love is what the takers in this world is really looking for. They are looking for life's meaning and love can open that door. It can give them a direction to go in. They will be looking into the light rather than the darkness. In the light, they will see what was missing in their lives and it was love.
Find that spark of love within your own life. Start by thinking about someone you really care for and mentally wish them well. Project only good thoughts toward them and feel that warmth within yourself. Let the love you find within yourself soften your heart and let kindness and compassion take hold. Practice to be a better person. Let the old ways past away and a new you take over. Pray for others that they may find love and be changed by it. Love is life giving, for God created us from his love and God is love (1 John 4:8).
Friday, March 9, 2018
I Was Not Left Without a Connection
Separation, Isolation, a feeling of being less and without. I made these things apart of my belief about myself. I realize there are different ways you can view your existence. I want to focus this post on two ways of living. I will call them the external and the internal.belief in ourselves.
The external belief consists of everything outside of ourselves, everything that we touch, see, hear and smell. The internal is how we perceive and interpret what our senses are telling us. You could call them our outer world and our interworld. In a spiritual way, you could call them the flesh and the spirit.
Externally, we walk about in our environment in a vehicle of flesh and bone. We are separate from everything as everything is separate from us. However, internally we can feel connected to everything and believing that everything is connected to us. A feeling of isolation can come from believing only in the external and not the internal. It doesn't help if we are suffering from depression in which will cause us to feel isolated and separated from everyone else. A belief could form that I am alone and I am nothing within our world. A depressed person will be trying their best to live in a state sadness and isolation.
The external living is trying to have happiness by attaining more things and looking to gain power and control by buying your way through life, not through respect and honor but through wealth alone. In external living, you connect through ownership. Possessing something becomes your form of connection. Possession brings yourself only temporary satisfaction.
The internal living is being contented and thankful for what you have. It is a peaceful connection to your environment. Not trying to own it but to enjoy it the way it is. It is letting people live the way they want to live without trying to control them. Deception is part of the external and honesty is part of the internal. Peace, love, and happiness come from the internal.
I can say that I am not left without a connection if I connect to my inner self. If I live only viewing the outside of myself, I will feel isolated from my environment. Externally, I am isolated and separated from the things around me but internally, I am spiritually connected to everything. From the internal, is where my connection to God is made.
1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"
The external belief consists of everything outside of ourselves, everything that we touch, see, hear and smell. The internal is how we perceive and interpret what our senses are telling us. You could call them our outer world and our interworld. In a spiritual way, you could call them the flesh and the spirit.
Externally, we walk about in our environment in a vehicle of flesh and bone. We are separate from everything as everything is separate from us. However, internally we can feel connected to everything and believing that everything is connected to us. A feeling of isolation can come from believing only in the external and not the internal. It doesn't help if we are suffering from depression in which will cause us to feel isolated and separated from everyone else. A belief could form that I am alone and I am nothing within our world. A depressed person will be trying their best to live in a state sadness and isolation.
The external living is trying to have happiness by attaining more things and looking to gain power and control by buying your way through life, not through respect and honor but through wealth alone. In external living, you connect through ownership. Possessing something becomes your form of connection. Possession brings yourself only temporary satisfaction.
The internal living is being contented and thankful for what you have. It is a peaceful connection to your environment. Not trying to own it but to enjoy it the way it is. It is letting people live the way they want to live without trying to control them. Deception is part of the external and honesty is part of the internal. Peace, love, and happiness come from the internal.
I can say that I am not left without a connection if I connect to my inner self. If I live only viewing the outside of myself, I will feel isolated from my environment. Externally, I am isolated and separated from the things around me but internally, I am spiritually connected to everything. From the internal, is where my connection to God is made.
1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"
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