It's Christmas - Let's Pay it Forward!

One of my more recent blogs was written about a bad day I had and complaining about my car needing repaired. Looking back on 3 months ago, it was a crazy few days. The expression of when it rains, it pours was completely true. I won't bore you with the details of everything that went wrong (or maybe I should say not in my favor), but let's just say I was a bit overwhelmed and was afraid to ask "what next?" Because I didn't think I could handle any more downpours of bad luck!

I know that God always provides when we need him to. I am a personal testimonial to this. And I can personally say he has blessed our family with exactly what we have needed these past few months. Since we have been so abundantly taken care of these past few weeks, my girls and I talked about ways we could give back, even if it was just something small.

With Christmas just around the corner, we agreed that we wanted to get a Christmas tree angel from the giving tree. We decided to go to our local Wal-Mart and pick a name and go shopping. Well, time got the better of us, and we kind of procrastinated. But the good news is that when we went to pick a name off the tree, there were 3 names left. My little one wanted to choose a girl from the tree to buy gifts for, but all the girl names were all taken. All that was left were 3 boys who were pre-teen ages. We picked one of those tree angels off the tree and off we went. I am so used to shopping for girls, so it was really took some effort to think what this little boy might like. The angel tag from the tree listed his clothing sizes and interests so we picked out a variety of clothes and some toys we thought he might like. The girls loved help picking out stuff and I had a warm feeling in my heart when we dropped our bag full of goodies off at the drop-off location for this charity. Plus the girls got a taste of what the true meaning of Christmas is. They were able to help out someone and that feeling made them happy to be able to help someone in need.

Lately I have found myself doing little things for others, strangers included, just because I want to. I admit I've not always been great about offering to help others out because like most people, I'm usually in a hurry and on a mission to get things accomplished. Just like today, there was a lady in a power wheelchair while grocery shopping staring at me getting my milk out of the cold section. I started to walk away, but instead turned around and asked if she needed help with something. I'm certainly glad I asked because what she needed was on the very top shelf and she couldn't reach it. I was happy I could help her out, and it only took about 10 seconds of my time and cost nothing to help her. I'm not telling you this to receive a pat on the back. Just simply sharing a story of how we can help others if we just take a moment out of our precious time and offer our help.

If it has been awhile since you have paid it forward, I challenge you to try this task. It doesn't even have to cost you any money. It might only take a couple minutes of your time, but it would help someone out. Is there an elderly person you know who could use some help around their home, or maybe someone to drive them to the store, or maybe just visiting someone like this for a little while? Is there an organization that you know could use some help and you could offer some of your time? Is there a family or friend you know could use an extra little something that maybe you could make a meal for or offer a gift card for a meal? It's little things like these examples that travel a mile. Sometimes if we just make a least amount of effort, it means the world to those on the receiving end. So again, I challenge YOU to pay it forward, in some way, big or small, in the next week. There are plenty of ways to do this. And the greatest part is that you will love the feeling inside when you do pay it forward. And in return, God will provide for you when you need it. It may not be in the way you expect to receive it, but it always comes full circle. Do something good for someone else, and in return, something good will be given to you.

I recently read a story in my local paper about an anonymous donor paying off several customers who had things in layaway for Christmas at K-Mart stores. The lady's husband had passed away and she was paying it forward by helping others. She was even handing out $50 bills to people in the store. This, ladies and gentlemen, is an angel sent from Heaven to help others in need. What a lovely surprise to those who had their layaway balances reduced or even paid in full. God always provides when we need Him to, and this is just one small example.

Remember, pay it forward in some small way and you will receive blessings in abundance of your good deed. God will always take care of us when we need Him to. But He also asks that we take care of others when they need us to.

Another Reminder of Our Blessings

Well, well, one of the last times I remember writing was over the fact I was ready for spring. Now summer is here, and already half over it seems like! Time just flies so fast anymore. We age just a little each day, but yet it doesn't seem like it. Our kids grow a little more each year, each month, each week, each day and before we know it, time has really flown by and they aren't babies anymore. Yes, time flies whether we like it or not. Life has been so busy for me lately that I haven't had time to blog. I miss it; I really do! But as the old saying goes, when all is well, there isn't much to say. Life is grand, kids are great, job is booming as it always does, and everything else is just swell.

I was reminded recently of how important life really is and how we should live each day to the fullest. I love making the most of each day. Sometimes that's easier said then done. I love summer, but then again, I don't like it. We are gone almost every night of every week doing some 4-H activity, or something. It's fun but it's tiring. And at the end of the day most days, I am beyond ready for my head to hit the pillow. Life is short and I want to make the most of it, but sometimes relaxation is nice too. An acquaintance of ours was killed in a motorcycle wreck a few days ago. He was 45 and left behind a wife and 3 kids. It shocked me when I heard even though I did not know the man very well. He was driving down the road I live on when he died. I was not a witness to the scene; nor would I have wanted to be. That would involve a wrecked vehicle and that is just not something I can look at without flipping over the top. But the point is, he was here that morning, and gone by the next morning. Life can change at the drop of a hat, and we must accept what comes our way whether we want to or not.

I thank God every day that I have been blessed with all that I have in my life. And I also know that if something is in God's will, it will happen when the time is right. One of the greatest things about the future is the unknown surprises that God has in store for us that we do not even know about yet. Or we could call it God's blessings of the future. Even if you have your "future" planned out, things can change. Life changes all the time and we must roll with it to stay sane. That's just my little reminder for today. As I always say, life live to the fullest. Love is one of the greatest treasures of all. Do not take life or love for granted. Appreciate all the blessings in life because you never know when those might be gone. Good night and God bless!

That Day Comes Again

Wow, how life has been busy lately! Just like you, I am consumed with work, kids, and everyday life. I have missed blogging and I hope to start blogging more. I need some inspiration! I need some ideas! Send me a title and we'll see what blog comes of it! It may not happen for a few months, but it could eventually become a blog. All in all, I cannot complain. God has blessed my life abundantly, more than words can say. I am just thankful for each and every day that I am given a fresh start. I am thankful for all the blessings he has given me over the years. But most of all, I am grateful for the chance we have at eternal life. When we turn everything over to God and trust in Him completely and wholeheartedly, amazing things happen. We grow in our faith more and more and we worry less. Well, the day I celebrate every year is here again. I celebrate the birth day of my daughter even though she is not physically here to celebrate it with me. She is smiling down on me from Heaven Above. She knows how dearly loved and missed she is, even though she is in a much better place than we are here on earth. Mindy Grace would be 7 years old today. It is hard to believe it has been that long because it seems like just yesterday. I have moments forever frozen in my memory of my time with her.

God was good to bless us with Mindy. God is good all the time even when good things don't happen. We just have to look for the good in all aspects of life. I look back on these 30 years of my life and realize how truly blessed I have been. I am grateful for all things that have happened to me; I am grateful for where I am today. Just like everyone else, I have been through alot in life. Some times were wonderful and other times weren't so great. But I made it through! I found the silver lining in every cloud of every storm and made it through to see the sun shine again. These last two years have taught me alot about life. It's funny how I can look back at where I at 3 years ago at this time, 2 years ago at this time, and 1 year ago at this time. My, oh my, how I have changed during each of those years! Not only have I gotten 1 year old each year, but I have learned enough to last me a lifetime. But the best thing of all, is that no matter how much I went through, or what I have learned, there is still so much more to explore, accomplish and learn along the way! There are so many things that God has planned for my life that I don't even know about yet. I just have to pray and wait to see where my path leads me. I have a pretty good idea of where I'm going to be, but only time will tell what will happen...

I attended a fashion swap at my church this past weekend. There was a guest speaker there who gave a very uplifting and warm message. One thing that she repeated numerous times was "I am a unique, unrepeatable miracle of God." She made every one in the room say it over and over throughout her talk with us ladies. Try this, say it aloud, right now. Don't worry about who is around, say it so you can hear your mouth speak the words: I AM A UNIQUE, UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE OF GOD. Now for those of you that just read it and did not speak it out loud, go back and say it! If you are in an environment you cannot talk to yourself because people might think you are a little nutty, at least write it down and say it to yourself out LOUD before the day is over. Since you are fortunate enough to be able to read my blog, at least do it for me!

I am a unique, unrepeatable miracle of God ~ that I am. That you are. And every unique individual that God created is. A unique unrepeatable miracle of God. Every one has their own mind, their own body, their own life, their own family, their own friends, their own car, their own email, their own favorite things, their own everything. Yes, people share things all the time, people share family members and friends. But there is not another person that has your name, your likes, your dislikes, your look, your voice, your smell, your hair, you get the idea. There is no exact replica of YOU because God created us all to be different in our own unique way. For those of you that have a Facebook account, their is no other person that has the same list of friends that you do! Want proof of that? You cannot be a "friend" to yourself on FB so therefore, no other person can repeat your list of friends exactly.

So there it is folks! We are all different from each other, but yet we are alike in so many ways. I am thankful for the friends I have; the friends that compliment me, the friends that listen to me, the friends that I can meet for lunch, the friends that know me better than I know myself, all the friends I have. I am especially thankful for the bestest friends that I have, there are just a select few. And I thank God for helping me find my best friend, that I can tell everything to and be who I really am, just last year.

So I hope you understand my point. Every one of us is our own person. We all see, hear, touch, feel and smell the same thing, but the end result differs in everyone. We don't always think alike, and we never will. If we all thought alike, how boring would that be! Everybody has their own "thing" they like to do. Everyone has their own interests. I love to go for a ride on tractors and combines but most people do not share that same spark of interest as me. So next time you are having a rough day or hard time, remember that you are a unique individual that is unrepeatable.

God makes each and every one of us for a different reason; a different purpose. Have you ever wanted to be famous? Be an actor or a famous singer? Well, God has chosen a select few to carry on those roles and entertain us. We all have a reason, or multiple reasons that we are put here on earth. We just have to pray to Him and ask what it is that He wants us to do. We must ask God where he wants us to go. We should ask God what he wants us to be in life. If we seek guidance and follow what He wants us to do, then God is pleased. For when we follow Him, He will bless us with we need. He will never leave us. He will provide us during our times of need. But we must keep the faith and know that He will provide for us when the time is right.

The other message our speaker wanted us to remember was that "God loves me." God loves me, God loves you. God loves everything He created. No matter what we have done, no matter where we have been, no matter what negative things our past holds, God still loves us anyway. He will never turn His back on us. He is there at all times. But again, you have to believe in Him. Remember to always believe and trust in the Lord.

I will conclude this post by saying this: Life is short. God is good. Count your blessings and be thankful for what you have. Give credit to the Lord for all good things because those are blessings from Him. Seek guidance in storms of life, and during the good times. He will never steer you wrong. Love others as you wish to be loved. Be happy and give to others. You would be amazed at how blessed you feel when living happy and being a positive role model for others.

If you have any blogs you would like to see written, leave me a comment! No promises, but it could happen. Have a blessed day. Laugh, love and live happy because that is what we are supposed to do! And Happy 7th Birthday to Mindy Grace in Heaven. You are never forgotten, and I am so thankful she is in the best place of all and has eternal life. We Love You Little Girl.

Life is Good Today; Life is Good

There was a phrase I had stuck in my head last week and for some reason, it still remains in my head today "Life is good today; life is good." Now people will look at that phrase and probably think they cannot say that every single day of their lives. But I am here to say, yes you can say that every day of your life, starting today! Life is full of blessings, but sometimes we have to look for them or be reminded at times. Yes, some days are harder than others, that is just life. But there is good in everyday if we search for it.



Life is good today and is good everyday we are blessed here on this earth. This popped into my head one afternoon while I was at work. It had been a busy week and a busy day especially. And I am one that loves to stay busy. Give me work and more work and I will complete it as fast and accurate as I possibly can. But this day wasn't so much about completing paperwork, it was about helping others. I had a few customers that day who really brightened my day even though they did nothing out of the ordinary. I love being able to help people, whether it be at work, family, friends, a complete stranger, whomever. I absolutely love helping others. And I thank God each and every day for the opportunities he has given me in my life. I have the most amazing daughters, a good family, wonderful friends, a great man in my life, a job that has turned into my ultimate dream job, the list goes on and on. But something hit me that day and just really made me realize how much I am truly blessed. I get paid to do what I love, and in return I get to help others everyday.



Sometimes even the smallest gesture can make such a big difference in someone else's day. I was at a meeting the other night of a group I have been a leader for 4 years. One of my new girls this year handed me a little box and said "Happy Valentine's Day." It was a small box of chocolate cracker treats with sprinkles on them. It was truly sweet! Even though it wasn't a big gesture from the girl, it made my day to know that what I do for the girls is appreciated. I never expect any type of gift for volunteer work because I like to do what I do; otherwise I wouldn't put forth all the effort that I do. But that was the first time in 4 years I had ever gotten a small gift from anyone in the group. I am happy even if I get a "thank you" at the end of the year. I am not a leader or take on extra roles because I want some glory or fame. I do it for my daughter, and for those kids who I have the privilege of helping and getting to meet. I always try to be the best positive role model that I can, and pray that I can help others in some way, even if it something small. But my point is that small gesture that the member of the group made put a big smile on my face and brightened my day. And it made me think of something that is common sense but now always spoken. Maybe if we each took the time to do something little for others once in awhile, we would brighten others lives or make them smile. Think about it ~ when is the last time you made a small gesture of kindness for others? It's kind of like the pay-it-forward theory. Do something nice out of the kindness of your heart just because. You don't always need a reason to do something nice. It would make you feel warm inside and benefit the person on the receiving end as well.



Life is not always easy, but there is something in each day to be thankful for. Even if you have the worst day ever, be grateful for at least one thing in your life. I am grateful each night that I get home because I am with the two lights of my life ~ my kids. Even if I've had a not so great day, or I'm trying to get things done around the house, or the kids are squabbling, even in the most hectic times, I am still grateful that God chose to bless me with my little girls. I am grateful for the house I come to that I call home, for the car that I drive each day because it enables me to travel, for the endless people that have come into my life whether it be for a season or for a lifetime. I am thankful for all the blessings in my life. I just wish more people would see that my theory on being grateful and thankful for what we already have and not for what we do not have.



I have written a couple times about a lady I met in my office who had cancer. She was given a couple weeks before Christmas to live, but God blessed her with a few more days and she peacefully went to be with the Lord on January 6, 2010. Even though I wasn't close to her, I went to pay my respects and express my condolences to her husband and family. Her husband is such a sweet man whom I've had the privilege of meeting through my job. He said he was right beside her when she left to be with Jesus and she was ready. She had finally come to the realization that she could not beat her cancer and so she wouldn't fight it anymore. Then he laughingly said she didn't want a big fuss during her viewing/funeral, and that she didn't want people to have to get out 2 days just for that, and that nobody would even be there. Let me just say the parking lot was full and we waited in line for at least an hour before talking with him. The first thing he said to me was "she must have really made an impact on you" and yes, she certainly did. I can remember she told me to take extra time for those "little things." Again, it comes back to the little things in life, not the giant monumental things that we go through.



Life was good the last few days because I was blessed to have a couple of snow days to stay home with my girls. Don't get me wrong, being cooped up in the house for two days because of snow, then leaving for a day for a normal routine, then being cooped up another two days can drive us all a little nuts. So 4 out of 5 days we were all snowy blanketed in our house together, but you know what? It was wonderful and I wouldn't change it for anything! We got to play together, eat together, bake cookies together, just have fun together! I hadn't played playdough in years (I think I forgot how). We completely cleaned out and revamped my daughter's room so she can enjoy having friends over next weekend for her birthday. We spent quality time together and that's what counts. So yes life was good yesterday, life is good today, and Lord willing, life will be good tomorrow.



I will say it again "life is good today; life is good." But I should change it to say "life is good everyday" because it truly is. Let's count our blessings today and thank God for what we have been given. Let's stop worrying about the future so much and live in the here and now because we miss so much of life if we live in constant worry or planning every step of life. The truth is we really can't plan every step of our life the way we think things will happen. Life just happens whether we are ready for it or not. We have to be prepared for whatever life throws at us. We should be grateful for our blessings. It's simple really. Be happy with what you have and try to roll the best you can in life. Life is Good Today, Life is Good <- Notice it doesn't just say "today" but the phrase ends with "Life is Good." And yes it is, Life is Good. Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week!

25 Heavenly Phrases

Give God what's right...
not what's left.

Man's way leads to hopeless end...
God's way leads to an endless hope.

Alot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma, but never let him be the period.

Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

Are you wrinkled with burden?
Come to the church for a facelift.

When praying, don't give God instructions...
just report for duty.

Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

We don't change God's message...
His message changes us.

The church is prayer-conditioned.

When God ordains, he sustains.

WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

Plan ahead... it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

Suffering from tooth decay?
Brush up on your Bible.

Exercise daily... walk with the Lord.

Never give the devil a ride...
he will always want to drive.

Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

He who angers you controls you.

Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler.

Be ye fishers of men...
You catch them and He'll clean them.

God doesn't call the qualified...
He qualifies the called.

Life is Good!

Yes, life is good! Life should be good all the time. Life is what we make of it and how we choose to look at it. We must take the good with the bad because we don't really have a choice. I always say life is a roller coaster ride; there will be hills and there will be valleys. But if you can take the hard punches along the way, it will make the good times even better.

I also like to think of this saying ~ God will never give us more than we can handle. Sometimes we may not always agree with that statement but it's true if you think about it. You have endured hard times in life, but you made it through them. You may have been at the end of your rope, or at your wits end with life, but you survived through whatever it was you had to deal with. You may have felt like your world was going to end, but it didn't! Those are the times in life that make us appreciate the good and happy times even more. We all have our limits that we have been pushed to, or even pushed over at times, but with prayer and God's guidance, we have the ability to handle whatever comes our way. But only if we let Him in and let Him help us with our troubles. And not just help us, but take our troubles away from us. God never wants us to suffer, but the harder times in life do make us stronger. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger, a very true statement if you think about it.

Life is good because I choose to see the best of everyday and choose the positive aspects in everything. I love my life, and wouldn't trade it for anything! God has a plan for my life, and each and every person put here on this earth. There have been hard times in the past and even recently, but I always look for the silver lining in the cloud and roll with it. If I didn't, it would only get me down and that is not what the Lord wants for us in this world. He wants us to know He is always there for us and will be no matter what happens or what mistakes we make in life. Just ask Him for forgiveness and granted that you will be!

Remember to have at least one positive thought every day. Just one positive thought or action can erase all the other negative thoughts or feelings you have. You would be surprised at how different life could be if you choose to be happy and in positive spirits all the time. We all have our down moments and that is ok. Just remember don't fall so far in the rut that you can't pull yourself back out of it. We can always rely on the almighty God to help us, but we also have to rely on ourselves too. We choose our actions and our thoughts in life, so let's make them good experiences and have positive thinking! May God bless you and your family today and each day forward. It is truly life changing if you just accept His word into your life! And not just accept His word, but live it too! Until next time, God bless...

Life's About Learning

I always say that life is a learning experience everyday. I believe we can learn something new every single day we are on this earth. Some days we learn alot and some days we don't learn much, but we can still increase our knowledge just a little each day. What is important about learning new things is how we apply those things to our life. Sometimes we learn about life's experiences, sometimes we learn how to do something new, sometimes we learn new information, there is always something we can learn if we allow ourselves that privilege. But we must take life's new knowledge and retain it and use it to our benefit in the future.

I am always learning new things in my job, new information from my kids, how things are processed, how this is different from that, and so on. I love to learn new information, whether it's something that can I can benefit from, or something I will use later down the road. I also love to learn about people; people are always interesting to learn about. Even our friends we have had for a lifetime can teach us things we never knew. And new people that we encounter along the road of life. I have truly been blessed to learn alot about people in the last year. It has been a people learning experience for me and I have loved every minute of it! I have also learned to read people pretty well. Sometimes I am not always right on target, and sometimes I have someone figured out to a T before I even really know them. Either way, I always make the learning experience a fun one because that's the way I choose to look at it!

Not only can we learn about people, but we are always learning to do something new. We can learn a new task each day if we put our minds to it. There are some days we learn how to do alot at one time. A first day on a new job is a good example. We enter unknown territory and learn as we roll through the day. And after we learn what is expected of us, then things get easier as time progresses. The same goes for new places and new territory. We can quickly learn what other places are like and gain some knowledge about how different operations work. We just have to take the initiative and make the effort to learn and our minds can be fulfilled with new knowledge!

Regardless of what goes on in our life on a daily basis, always remember there is something that can be learned and applied to your life every single day. Sometimes we receive new information we have waited a long time to hear. Other times we receive information that we are devastated to hear. Either way, take what information or new tasks you learn and do something with it. Apply new knowledge or info to your life in some way, shape or form. Learn from your experiences bad and good. Remember what you had to encounter to learn new things along the road of life. Always treasure the memories of good times in your life. And on the flip side, you cannot always take the bad memories of life, stuff them in a box and bury it. Eventually those bad memories or bad things that happened to you come back one way or another. Sometimes we go through something so bad that we want lock it away and throw away the key forever. If this happens to you, pray that God takes those burdens away from you and makes you a better person because of what you went through. Life is not always easy, but it can be if we make it. We can choose to learn something everyday through our life's experiences. But we must apply what we learn along the way to make our future brighter. We cannot change the past; therefore we must look ahead and move on. I still strongly believe in the living day by day theory, and that is EXACTLY what I do every day. I live my life for the here and now and appreciate life's little learning experiences along the way.

I always use a certain phrase and I recently saw this same phrase repeated so many times I couldn't count. It's a very simple statement ~ "Live Well. Love Happy. Laugh Often." Those six little words are very powerful if you read them and apply them to your life. Live well so that you can gain the most life while you are here on this earth. Love happy because love should always be cheerful and make you happy. And laugh often because laughter is good for the heart and soul. If you can do these three things, you will be much happier in life, and you will learn more along life's trail of living. So I pray this for each person ~ if you are not learning something new each day while living, then I pray that this changes. Learning is a wonderful experience, but we must open the door and invite the opportunity in so we allow ourselves to learn new things everyday. But just remember, learning is great and all, but applying that knowledge to your life is even better. And that's what the Lord wants us to do. Take what we know, and learn along the way and make the most of life's experiences and live to the fullest. I live that way everyday and how awesome my life has become! I have had many challenges along the way and I still do; we all do. But we must keep moving forward and learning something new everyday and we will move farther ahead in life. Do not shut out knowledge, for sometimes it can be the best thing that happens to you. Good or bad, happy or sad, learning is a good thing and the sooner you learn that, the sooner your life will be better. Try it today ~ allow yourself to be taught just one thing and apply it to your life. That is what God wants us to do and I pray that you are able to do just that! May God Bless and remember to learn something new today!

May God Bless Your Day!

Today is a good day because... I have chosen to make it a good day! We all need days where our spirits are lifted and nothing can ruin the day. We also all need a good laugh in our day. I just love humor! That's what keeps me going somedays. Have you ever had a good laugh about something? It's funny how when you laugh, you feel better afterwards. It's almost as if a laugh releases negative energy from your body. Or sometimes we can be having the worst day, or one of those days where nothing is going right. Usually when that happens to me, I start to laugh about all the mishaps because what else can you do, really? You can get more mad at the situation or you can laugh about it and make yourself feel better!

I can honestly say life is good. I love my life because I have been extremely blessed with so many things from the Lord ~ my children, my family, my friends, my home, my job, my little SUV that I love, and the list goes on and on! I think the reason I love life so much is because of the positive attitude I always carry. Not alot gets me down and when it does, I turn it all over to the Lord. That happened to me last week and I had to almost smack myself on the head and snap out of it. I immediately stopped pouting over whatever it was, and prayed that the Lord took all of the "stuff" I didn't want, all the burdens I was carrying, and you know what? He did. It was as if my worries were lifted right outside of my body and carried off into the clouds. It was an amazing feeling really. You should try it sometime!

I absolutely love writing on this blog. I started this a year ago and it has been great therapy for me at times. It has been a way to vent about whatever it is on my mind. It has been a way for me to come out of my shell even more. It has been a way for me to discover this buried writing talent I have always had and didn't know it. It has been a way for me to meet new friends, some that have turned into the bestest friends I have ever had. Overall, it has been a new way for me to share some humor, share inspirational thoughts, and whatever comes to my brain. But I have also discovered something funny over the past few days. Sometimes I get accused of writing a blog about a particular person and that person wants an explanation. I had a good laugh over that one recently! Actually more than once. Someone wants to take credit for inspiring something I have written. I always have a good laugh about that one every time. Because really what I write is not always about someone or something in particular, it is a combination of things I have been through or thoughts that brew in my head for months or years.

Would you believe that sometimes I get a title of a blog in my head and I write it down? I have no idea how the blog will be written, but I know God puts that on my heart to write a blog about something. I admit there are times something or someone will trigger a new blog, but that's not always the case. Sometimes I am just bored and sit down to type and God puts the words in my head that are transposed on to the computer screen. Sometimes I have no clue what I am going to write about, I just start with some thought in my head and roll with it! And I hope and pray that when I do write something, it can help at least one person who reads it. What I have found absolutely amazing is that I will write a blog and then re-read it a few months later, and it has a completely different meaning but yet it's the same words. Funny how that happens. Just like the pastor at church can give a message to the entire congregation and each person will take something from that message and apply it to their life. Hundreds of people hear the same words, but those words have a totally different meaning to you then the person sitting next to you. That's one of the amazing ways that God works in this life. He uses other people to send messages to us. Sometimes we are so caught up in our own little world, we miss the message He is trying to send us or we ignore it because we do not want to hear it.

This particular blog has no direct message. Just a reminder to always be grateful for the many blessings we are given in this world. Take time to stop and smell the roses and not live your life in fast forward motion. Because if we worry about the future, we miss out on the joys of today. We should always be open minded for whatever plan God has for our life. If we get in the habit of praying on a daily basis and asking Him for guidance, we will eventually learn when God is speaking to us. The trick is to listen to the Lord and follow through with what He instructs you to do. Sometimes it's not always what we want to do, or what we think we should do, but He will never steer us wrong if we praise Him and listen to His word. We are all tested each day and we must endure those tests to receive more pieces of the puzzle of our lives. Life is a big mystery; we never know what will happen from one day to the next. We never know when "the day" is coming and Jesus will come back for us. So live today to the fullest, plan for tomorrow, and be prepared to let the Lord guide your future. And if you can do that, you are doing exactly what He wants you to do. Stay strong, move ahead, look ahead and always remember He is there with you each and everyday if you just look for Him. Have a wonderful day and may God bless your path today!

Close Your Eyes and Let Your Heart Lead the Way

As I climbed into my SUV today at lunchtime, I turned the ignition and heard those exact words from the end of a Reba McEntire song. "Close your eyes and let your heart lead the way." I often read into music alot and look to songs for signs from Above. I have a feeling this was speaking pretty loud and clear to me. When we venture from our comfort zone and drift into unknown territory, it can be scary. This is when we must let go of what we know and trust in the Lord to direct our way.

Closing our eyes means that we cannot see. But if you think about it, people that are blind deal with this everyday. They must rely on their other senses to guide them, and often with the help of others. They cannot see, they can only mentally visualize images in their head. Being blind would be incredibly difficult, but there are people that live with this disability everyday. And there are those who have become huge successes. I think of Ronnie Milsap, the country music singer who is blind and has played music for many years now. I saw him in concert 2 years ago and was quite inspired by him. So just think, if you are fortunate enough to be reading this, then God has blessed you with the visual ability to see. Thank Him for that!

When we go to bed each night, we close our eyes and hope to get a good night's sleep. So in essence, we cannot see when we are asleep. Sometimes we dream at night so we have visual images in our mind. That is the time to rest our minds and our bodies so that we have energy the next day to go about our daily lives. And if we are fortunate enough to get a good night's sleep, then we usually wake up happy and ready to get the next day started! So closing your eyes is often times a good thing.

Closing your eyes is like walking into the unknown. Have you ever tried closing your eyes and walk around your house and do normal daily routines? I have before just for kicks, and it was much harder than I thought. Even walking with my eyes closed was a trick! I actually had to keep my eyes closed for a whole day (or most of it anyways) when I had my Lasik surgery a few months ago. Let me tell you that was tough! Just try walking to the bathroom without tripping over the cat who is out of food and starving to death LOL. Let's just say it was not a fun evening! Even though I knew my way around my house very well, I still felt a little lost at times.

When we are going through troublesome times, that is normally how we feel ~ Lost. Lost without direction to go. Lost in the world wondering what is to come next in our lives. Now when we feel lost, remember what we are supposed to do and what we should be doing everyday. Turn to the Lord and pray for guidance! Ask Him to guide your way and where He wants you to be. Sometimes you will not get an immediate answer. And that is the hardest part of all ~ I know! Just be still and listen and He will guide you when it is your turn to receive a blessing. Close your eyes and let your heart lead the way.

When we put our heart into something, that means it is something very important and very special to us. Hearts are very tough because they get broken everyday. Unfortunately that is the cold hard truth. Nobody wants their heart broke, but it sometimes takes a heartbreak to get to the next step in your life's plan. Have you ever heard the expression "follow your heart?" That is what God wants us to do. If we believe in something so much with our heart and soul, then follow that. Simple as that. Don't give up on it if it's in your heart, but do be aware that sometimes what is on your heart will change over time. It will change with the tides of life that roll in and out.

Be careful to not confuse your heart with your head. So many times we think of something in our heads, or we think the Lord has led us a direction because of what we believe in our minds. Or we put a visual image in our head and we are going to pursue it no matter the cost because that is what we want. It goes along with the theory we always want what we can't have. We are all guilty of it at some point in time or another, more often times than not! But if we truly believe something in our heart, than we know it must be real. So we should ALWAYS listen to our heart along with guidance from the Lord. And if we can do both of those things, we will lead the happiest and most fulfilled life possible on this earth! He will never steer us wrong; we just have to listen to Him and be willing to accept what life throws at us along the way.

When we have something on our heart, it becomes a passion so big that we cannot control it. It is absorbed into our mind, soul, body and spirit whether we like it or not! When we believe something with our heart and soul, we can't help but be led by whatever it is that is in our hearts. Now the trick to all of this is how do we differentiate if something is in our head or our heart?

That is one question I would love to ask God above. I have no clue to the answer, but if you do, leave me a comment with your insight! I do know that following my head will normally lead me somewhere I do not want to go or somewhere I will regret in the long run. But when I follow my heart, it will lead me true and put me where I am supposed to be in this world. If you do not know if something is in your head or your heart, my only advice to you is to pray about it. Ask God to speak to you in a way so that you understand whatever it is you are dealing with. Ask Him to help you know what is right and what is wrong at that moment in time. Sometimes things in our hearts can change over time, but once someone or something is in your heart, it does make a permanent indention in your heart that will be there for eternity.

Remember when closing your eyes, let God lead your way to following your heart in this world. Be open minded and ready for change because that sometimes happens when we least expect it! I have had so much thrown at me in the last few days; things I never dreamed of. It's a time for me to sit back and stay still. Time for me to reflect on where I am in life, where I am going, and what I want out of life. All this is completely possible with God by my side who will not steer me wrong. I have to be patient and willing to listen to get where I need to be. So remember this theory is a good one ~ walk blindly and listen to your heart and you cannot go wrong. If you can see exactly where you are going, that isn't always a good thing. If you cannot see where you are going, enjoy the ride along the way and learn to listen to the Lord. For when the time is right, your eyes will be opened and listening to your heart will get you where you need to go. So try it today, close your eyes, drift off to dream world, and let your heart guide you. Just don't be fooled by your head because you don't want to end up in a snow drift when you could be in tropical paradise!

Can People Change?

Can people change? That is a good question. I believe the answer to that is yes, but the person has to want to change in order for that to happen. Some people change for the better, and others change for the worse over time. Normally a person changes when something drastic happens in their life. There are numerous reasons a person can change but some of the obvious would be the death of a loved one, marriage, divorce, having children, loss of a job, the opportunity to work in their dream job, and the list goes on and on. Notice some of the changes were positive and others were not so good.

There is that word again that not many of us like to hear ~ CHANGE. Yes, I said it, change. Change is that thing that comes into our life and makes what we know as familiar and things we consider comfortable in our life different. Many of us like to keep the same routine, the same daily grind, and the same people around us each and everyday. If we are happy and content with our everyday scenarios, that is great. But if we are not 100% happy with the way things are going or the way our life is headed, then it's time to think about making a change so that we can improve our current situation.

I believe the first step in making a change is to figure out what you want in life. Yes, YOU as an individual. You have to be totally content and happy with yourself before you can move on in life. And if you are not completely happy with yourself, take the necessary steps to make it happen. Whether that is to explore new territory, push things out of your life that aren't what you need right then, stop a bad habit, whatever it is - do what it takes to find yourself and make peace within yourself. For when you are happy with yourself, you will gain so much more out of life and live life to its fullest extent without even trying. It will just come natural to you if you are happy within yourself. And don't forget prayer ~ pray, pray, and pray some more. With the Lord's guidance and doing what you feel is right, you will find yourself soon enough. And there is no better feeling in the world than knowing you are doing the right thing, living as you should be, and being happy with yourself.

So once you figure out who you really are, you are then ready to move forward and let go of the past, let go of the questions in your mind, and look ahead to the future. The key to remember in finding yourself is that there is no time limit set in stone. But the longer it takes to find yourself, the more fun and adventures you might incur, but the more you might also be missing out on life. We are only given so much time here which is 24 hours a day for an uncertain number of days on earth, so do what you need to do. Remember it's not about the destination, it's about the journey along the way where we will learn who we truly are as an individual. So once you are ready to move on, do it! Don't let anything hold you back. Go achieve your goals, chase your dreams, go live life! If that means letting go of the familiar and doing something you have never done, then go for it. If that means chasing something you have always wanted or know is right for you, then reach out and don't stop until you grab on to it. Whatever it is you feel you are supposed to do on this earth and whatever you feel is in God's plan for your life, go for it. What are you waiting for?

When we reach the point of being happy with our self and who we are, we figure out what we want out of life, and then we reach for our dreams and goals, then what? It's sometimes an answer we have waited a long time to receive and it's sometimes walking into unknown territory. No matter what the situation, remember we must continue to seek the Lord's guidance day in and day out. And never forget that! He is the key element for us to live life to the fullest and carry out His plan for our life.

So back to my original question, can people change? I believe with all that said and done, it's hugely possible. I have asked myself that question about certain people my entire life or as long as I've known the person. Then there are others who I look at and say "they will never change." You all know someone like this. They are stubborn, set in their ways, and tend to always think they are right about everything. And even worse, they can never admit when they are wrong. Or if they do make a mistake, they rarely admit when they are at fault. Maybe you are even that very person I just described. I have met a few along the way, and if a person is that stubborn, I will either fade them out of my life or push them away eventually. We are all wrong sometimes, we all make mistakes, we all have faults and the sooner you accept that, the better. I will be the first to admit I am not perfect; nor will I ever be. None of us will ever be perfect in this world today. But we have to take the bad with the good and try to make the most of every situation in life.

I have had to deal with some pretty stubborn people in my lifetime. Sometimes it's easier to give in instead of argue. But the person I have evolved into since my divorce would have to argue with that point. I will cave on some issues if they aren't of monumental value. But if it's something I strongly believe in, I will stand my ground on my opinion and won't back down. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and I will respect theirs, as long as they will respect my views. I have learned a little secret to stubborn people that I will let you in on ~~ ready?? Ok, here goes....
"Nobody can be the biggest stubborn a** 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Everyone has a soft point somewhere. It's just a matter of finding that weakness or soft side, and using the components needed to bring that side out. " (My words of advice)

So did you just read that statement? Most of you will agree with me after reading that sentence. However, if you look at that statement and tell yourself that is isn't true, then YOU, my friend, are one of those stubborn people that needs to rethink how you treat people and have more respect for today's society!! Even Good Old Mr. Scrooge had a heart in the long run!

Here is another important point to remember. All of life's events, people that have come into our lives, people that have exited our lives, everything that has happened to us at this point in time right now that you are reading this has made you into the person you are today. Now the million dollar question is - do you like the person you are right now in time? Are you happy with yourself as a person in the current life scenario at this exact moment in time? If yes, again, congratulations! You are at a point most people in their life are not. Your job is to stay happy with who are you and help others come to that point in their lives. Or be an influence to others and make them realize they need to become content with themselves first. (Thank you JMS ~ I love you darling!)

We must all endure life's changes which in turn means we must change ourselves and adjust our life to the current situation. Sometimes we do not always like what life throws at us, but we must roll with it. I hear all the time about bad things that have happened to people, and they blame what has happened in their life for the person they have become today. I know firsthand that life isn't fair. I watched my 9 day old daughter die in the arms of her daddy 6 years ago. That is an image that will be forever engraved in my mind. But I have also had the wonderful blessing of watching my two other daughters grow up into the sweet sassy little darlings they are today. I have endured the breaking up of a 10 year marriage into divorce. That was not in my original plan when I got married years ago, but God had a different direction for my life then I originally thought. Since then I have been blessed abundantly in life! But it's also at that point in time of my life I really turned to God and gave it all over to him, and faithfully started following the Lord. I am not one to preach on a street corner, but I do give Him credit for all things in my life. For without His guidance and blessings, I would not be where I am today nor would I be the person I have become today.

I believe we can all change if we want to change. I believe life is what we make of it; and we choose how we live. I believe if something is meant to happen or meant to be, it will be when the time is right. I do not have all the answers in this world; nor do I want all the answers. I have caught myself saying in the past that I would love to have a crystal ball to know my future, but what fun would that be? It would spoil the surprises of life, good and bad. I have also learned I have to develop patience in a situation when I want something to happen. I have learned things will happen how they should and when the time is right, if we accept that fact of life. We must always be prepared for changes in life, big or small, good or bad. We never know what life holds one day to the next. All I can say is I am learning to be happy with life, learning to be happy with my current scenario, learning to be open minded about changes in the future, and learning who I really am as a person everyday. I am sure not the same person I was two years ago, or even a year ago. I have come so far in life and grown in myself and in the Lord. It's amazing how great life can be when you relinquish all your troubles to Him and leave it ALL in His hands. In time, He will show you the way, even if it's a road you never expected your life to lead!

My advice for the day is to remember life is what you make it. If you are not happy with something in life, do what it takes to change that and make yourself happy. If you haven't found yourself, pray that God will help you do that in the near future. If you are walking in this world and feel alone or lost, you don't have to be. Ask the Lord to come into your heart and show you the way; show you His plan for your life. You would be amazed what a little prayer would do. It can truly change your life! If you need to make changes in your life, don't sit back and think about it; take action. Nobody other than yourself can choose what you do with your life, so take initiative and make things happen for yourself. Nobody is going to lead you by the hand and say "do this" or "do that"; all the choices you make in your life are ultimately up to you. And with prayer and the Lord's guidance, you will eventually come to where He wants you to be. It might take awhile to get where you are going, but if the treasure at the end of the rainbow is truly worth it, then so will the journey along the way. God Bless!

It Really is Your Choice

This world is full of choices we have to make on a daily basis. The choices that we make in life can lead us to many different paths. You are the only person in charge of your decisions so therefore you are the ones that drives your car on the path of life. Along with this theory comes influence from the outside world and from others. The circumstances that life throws at us will determine what decisions we make and how we make those choices.

We must remember to pray for direction and what direction the Lord wants us to take in this life. Without guidance from above, we carve our own way and sometimes that isn't the way we should have taken. Or sometimes it is the way we should have taken so we can come to something greater down the road. The bottom line is we must always do what we think is right and go which direction we think God has pointed us towards.

Let's take a walk for a moment. Pretend it's a nice pretty day outside. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the weather is perfect and the sun rays are beaming down through the clouds from above. It's one of those days that all is well in the world and you are happy. There are no worries, just happy thoughts and good memories. Now picture a favorite place that you like to get away to or enjoy being at. In this location is a little box that has a note on the outside that says "Open." So you stop to think for a moment. This is a happy day, you are in your favorite spot and there is a box just sitting there waiting to be opened; the contents are yet a mystery. So your curiosity is peaked and you decide to open this little box. As the lid is unveiled to the world, you find a small piece of paper inside. As you unfold it you wonder who would have left a note in this box and if you were supposed to be the recipient of it. Then you look at the piece of paper that has these words written on it:

"Leave your worries here. Take your troubles and let them disappear. As you close this box, forget about the past and focus on the future. When you shut this box, you are letting go of your worries and putting your trust and faith in me. From this point on, let things happen as they should. Live life each day as if it was your last. And never forget that I am here for you ALWAYS."

Now after reading this note, there is no signature at the bottom. It is left up to you to decide who wrote the note. It could have been a friend, a loved one, a stranger, or... God himself. You don't know who wrote the note, all you know is that you have read it and now you must make a choice. You can pretend you never saw it and place it back where you found it. Or you can do as it instructs and let go of all your worries and place them in the box as directed. So now you must choose which direction to go. I cannot make the decision for you; only YOU can do that.

If this were me and I came upon this box, the first thing I would do is thank God for giving me this opportunity. I would then mentally gather all of my negative thoughts, worries, concerns, and troubles and shake them from my head and pour them into the box. Just like that. Gone. Done. Shut the lid! Now all of my worries and fears would be out of my mind and my head would be refreshed and cleansed once again.

So after reading that little scenario and thinking about it in your mind, what would you choose? The good thing is that exact scenario is REAL LIFE. We all have worries and concerns about what to do or how something will work out or where we will be in 10 years. But the nice thing about life is that we do not have to worry about all that stuff. Give all your worries to the Lord and He will take care of them for you. He will make them disappear and give you a clean start. Right Now. All you have to do is ask Him to take your pain, concerns, troubles, and fears and He will. God is good and He will never steer us wrong if we continue to pray and ask for guidance on a daily basis. We cannot ask for guidance and then stop listening. We must continue to pray everyday for what the Lord wants us to do and where He wants us to be. I thank God for the blessings I have been given and you should to. Until next time, Live and Love Happy because we only have ONE life to live!

Just a Reminder

I think we all need a daily reminder that life is what we make of it with the choices we make and God's guidance in making those decisions in life. We don't always understand the reason things happen, but there is always a purpose for whatever happens in life. We sometimes may not understand the purpose as to why some things happen the way they do, but the man upstairs will never steer us wrong. If we are supposed to be somewhere at a certain moment in time, He will make sure we are there. Sometimes things happen that change our direction we think we are supposed to be going. No matter what happens in life, know that there is always a reason for everything. We need to remember to continue to pray on a daily basis for guidance and thank God for our blessings He has given us on this earth!

Isn't it wonderful how we can look back on things we have been through in the past and learn from those actions? Isn't it wonderful how we can be grateful for something we have now that we did not have then? Isn't it amazing how God will bless us in time when we allow it? Isn't it wonderful how prayer along with time and patience will bring us to where we need to be? Isn't it fabulous how good the Lord is to all of us when we let him in?

The answer to all of the above questions is... YES! It is wonderful, amazing, and fabulous how good our Lord is to us when we follow his word. So this is just a little reminder we need to stay on the right path looking forward and pray for his guidance and He will bless us each and everyday. Sometimes it might take a little time to get where we are going, but when we get there, He will let us know we are where we are supposed to be. So go now, pray and thank the Lord for your blessings in this world!

Dancing with God

Just thought I would share an e-mail I received today:

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word "Guidance."
When I saw "G", I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.

This prayer is powerful, and there is nothing attached.
If God has done anything for you in your life,
please share this message with someone else.
Interceding in prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards,
so let's continue to pray for one another.
And I Hope You Dance!

Faith Will Pay

God is always there. He is always there for us no matter what we do, where we have been, or what our past actions have been. He is and always wants to be our rock. We just have to let him be our rock we lean on when times are hard or our life isn't going quite how we want it. We must have FAITH in Him. That can be easier said than done many times.

Have you ever noticed when life is good and we are floating on our own little cloud, we tend to pull away from God and not lean on him so much? It's true if you think about it. When we are content with our life or current situation, we don't need to pray as much and ask for guidance because we think we know where we are going. Just remember that God brought us to those happy and content times so even though we are at a happy patch in life, we should never stop praying and thanking Him for the many blessings he gives each and every one of us.

Think about this ~ when times are tough, or we find ourselves in a situation with no one else to turn to, where do we often go? Or let me rephrase the question ~ where SHOULD we go when we are backed into a corner with no one to talk to or no where else to turn? You know the answer without the words leaving your mouth. Yes, God is the right answer ladies and gentleman. He is the one we should lean on and have faith in when times are tough. Only He can bring us out of a hole we get ourselves in.

It's FAITH in HIM that will lead us where we need to be. It's FAITH that will help us reach our destination in life as to where He wants us to be. It's FAITH that will show us where we are meant to be if we just BELIEVE with our entire heart and soul. When we lose faith, we lose trust in the Lord. We must always keep the faith going even when it's difficult to do.

We must stop relying on ourselves to accomplish whatever it is we are trying to complete in this world. We have to ask for direction and guidance or we will always end up in the same place over and over again. We will not be able to move forward and live happily ever after if we stay stuck in the same place forever.

So remember 'Faith Will Pay.' Faith in Him will lead us to His plan for our lives. And the sooner we have FAITH in God, the sooner we will receive word for our direction and where we are meant to be on this earth. He loves each and every person on this earth because He created YOU. Even before you were born, God created YOUR life for a purpose. And you will soon find out that purpose if you keep the FAITH. So even if it's hard to do, have faith starting right now. And I can promise you in the long run you will be glad you did. Because FAITH will lead you to your life's destiny!

Where Will Your Path Lead You?

God has a path for everyone in this life. The question is how do we know if we are on that path he has paved for us or if we have ventured off the trail? There is one good answer to that question ~ pray about it, and then wait for an answer. The waiting period is unknown often times. It could be right away or it might take some time to receive the answer you have been searching for. One thing I have learned though ~ the longer it takes to receive an answer to the direction God wants us all to follow in our lives, the more we encounter and the more we learn from all experiences life throws at us. The trying and difficult times makes us stronger because we can learn from our weak moments. The storm will always pass eventually, we just have to have patience and faith through the raindrops that fall down on us. I have been so blessed in this life. I thank God every day for each and every blessing he has given our family on this earth. It's when I stop to listen and really focus on where He wants me to be, that is when I typically receive an answer as to what path he has carved for me. I do not want to make my own path through the woods of life, and neither does God want that for any person in this world. God will always come through for us no matter what choices we have made in the past. One other lesson of life I have learned is that when I truly listen to God's word, He will show me which direction to follow. And when I follow the direction He wants me to, the blessings are so abundant that I cannot begin to describe them. There have been times in my life where I was on top of the world and thought I had it all, but little did I know that was not where God intended for me to be. When I have been struck by lightning, it was hard to endure the effects of the storm, but it is so worth going through life's experiences and pain I have endured to get where I am today. I would not trade where I am today for anything. I am right where I am supposed to be at this very moment and I believe God will only continue to direct me as long as I stay true to His word and what plans he has for me. Just by chance the song Hallelujah is playing in the background at my house right this instant. Just another sign from God that I am where I need to be and I need to keep up the faith.

Where will your path lead you in this lifetime? Ask God that question and you will receive an answer when the time is right. Continue to pray for guidance even when you have no idea what He wants you to do or where He wants you to be. Again, you will not always know the answer to your path of life immediately. It takes time and patience to reach your destination. We can learn something each and every day. Take life one day at a time and you will receive the answer when you are meant to. I will leave you with this quote that I created over a year ago when I was going through the roughest time of my life:

"The key elements of life are patience and that things happen in God's time, not ours." <- When we learn patience, we learn a very important characteristic of how God wants us to be in this life. And when we remember that things will happen when the time is right, which is God's time, then we will walk further down our path of life. For when we make our own path, we are not listening to God and will not receive the blessings He has in store for until if we take the time to listen. I pray that each person reading these words takes time to slow down, pray and listen to the plan He has for your life. It could make a big difference if you stay on the right path rather than venture off into the hills or valleys of life!

Some People Just Need Prayer

There are people in this world who think they have all they need in the world. They live life as though they are doing fine and that they have accomplished so much in this world. What some people do not understand is that the things they have and goals they have accomplished in life are not because of what they have done. It is because of what God has done in their life or the blessings he has provided for them. I believe that there is a God, I believe that God will provide for me when I need Him to, and I believe that God will take care of me when I need Him to. I give God credit for all things that have happened in my life, all the things I have accomplished, and all the blessings I have been given in this lifetime. Without Him in my life, I would not be where I am today.

There are people who attack others because they are not confident enough in themselves to be a good upstanding citizen. People can be mean or belittle others when they are scared; scared of losing what they have in life. It is these people I believe need prayer the most and need to be prayed for the most.

Often times we have to be the bigger person in a situation that is tough. But that is God wants us to do. Turn the other cheek, smile and move forward as though nothing has happened. And instead of being drug down in the situation, take advantage of it and pray for that person or those people. It's that person or those people who need to realize God can turn their life around if they will just allow Him in.

Do you know someone who needs to turn their life around or that needs God in their life? I would ask you now to pray for that person. Pray that they see the light before it is too late. Also pray that once they find God and find themselves, then they go on to be a mentor to others. That they become a mentor and lead others to God because of where they were once in their life or what they have been through in their life. Everyone knows at least someone who could use more positive influence in their life. Pray for that person NOW, do not wait until it is too late!