Everyone Likes To Blame It On Someone Else..........

Everyone likes to blame their issues on someone else. "It's the economy's fault",  "Its my families fault", or even "Its the devils fault." Sometimes we blame others to justify our actions....for example "I wouldn't have lost my temper and sped off and got a ticket, if HE hadn't of made me so mad."

All too often we forget to look at one person in particular....ourselves. Ouch, I know, that might sting a little. But friend, the truth usually does. Ignore the pinched toes and keep reading.

We are where we are today, because of what we did yesterday. We will be where we are tomorrow, because of what we do today.

So if you are stuck in a rut and you don't know how to get out, whether that be an abusive relationship, a horrible job, or even just feeling "down in the dumps"...... Or maybe you are broke, don't have the degree you always wanted, or your still addicted to that one thing you wish you weren't.....change something today about your life.

Stop blaming every one else. Im not saying outside things can't effect us. I am saying that they can only effect us as much as we let them. We have to change. We have to do something different. Have you ever heard this saying? "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results."

Change today....because in changing today, you will forever change your future.

Dont let your current circumstances or situation dictate the outcome of the rest of your life. Get up...dust off....keep going. Change is just around the corner.
If this has blessed you today, please pass it forward. Thanks.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5).

Life......It's Really Just "Horse Play" ~ Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh At It

Today I was cleaning a Rancher's house. They have a picturesque house with the traditional "red barn", horse stables, and flowers everywhere you look.

After I finished, I went out to the stables to take some pictures of the horses. Since the stables were well shaded on the inside, the flash on my camera went off when I took the picture. This surprised the horses and it made them jump. Their eyes looked like they were literally going to pop out of their head's. (I think the owner would be upset to have "eyeless" horses. Good thing their eyes remained intact.)

So, this made me think.

Sometimes life can seem to be going along just fine. Peaceful, all is well, not much happening really. Then all of the sudden some strange thing appears before us and FLASH, it scares the food we ate earlier in the day right out of us.

Why do we react like that? God has been there for us a million times before, gotten us out of a million messes before. So why is it that the first thing we do in a problem or situation is FREAK OUT? I don't know either. I do it alot myself. LOL

But, I am getting better. Slowly but surely I am reminding myself just Who is in charge, how very powerful He is, and how much He wants the best for me (and you). Then I start to feel the heart rate slow down, the breathing go back to normal, and all of my "on the alert" nerves go back to being "at ease".

I can assure you that when that horse saw me coming they did not expect that flash in their faces. I am sure they thought my camera bag was a "treat bag" of some sorts and they were expecting a lovely afternoon snack. Not a light blinding camera.

So remember, if life throws you a curve ball today....don't panic. Remember who your defender is, ask Him for help, then breath a little easier knowing just Who He is and that He is on your side. Because of those facts....remind yourself, "Its going to be alright".

You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance.
Psalm 32: 7

[And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
2 Timothy 4: 18

And he said: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. 
2 Samuel 22: 2(NKJV)

It's More Than Just "Show Up"....

Have you ever felt like you are just "supposed to be" at this one place, take this certain job, or sit in this certain seat? Have you ever wondered why that is?

Let me tell you this story I heard a few years back. All true. All as a result of one persons act of kindness, because they just "felt" they needed to do this.

A young boy and his mom were in Florida on a busy street. When they reached the corner his mom looked down at him and said "You wait here, I will be back."

Of coarse, she never came back.

He watched for her. For three days he watched for her. Hungry, scared and very, very alone. He was scared to leave that corner because what if his mom came back and he missed her?

On that third day, Dave Rudenis, a local mechanic, found him there. Realizing what had happened, he took the boy home.

He felt like he should pay this young 12 year old boy's way to summer camp. It was a Christian summer camp. It was during THAT camp that Bill Wilson committed his life to God. Then everything changed.

Today, because of that moment, because that one man followed through with what he "felt he was supposed to do", millions of lives have been changed for the better.....starting with Bill Wilson's.

I met Bill Wilson a few years back. Some of the things that I learned that he does is rescue children out of the sex slave trade, he has a bus service and church service for over 100,000  "forgotten children" weekly, he does mission trips, raises money for those most in need, and has made it his personal goal to reach the lost and change lives......because he "feels like he should".

(Here is the link to his website. http://www.metroworldchild.org/about-us/bill-wilson )

So what is the difference between us and the man that helped Bill Wilson? What is the difference between us and Bill Wilson?

They didn't just think about it.......they thought about it....THEN they did it.

I encourage you today...listen to that voice on the inside. If you have a dream, or even if its just a "thought of a dream", you should do it. Step over from just thinking about it, to making it a reality.

You could be a "Dave Rudenis", or maybe you are the "Bill Wilson". In whichever case.....Step out, get moving, and change the world. One person at a time.

They are waiting.

A Message That Was Written Just For You Today.

You might have woke up with a laundry list of things to do today and it has left you feeling overwhelmed. Or maybe the cares and worries of this life have consumed your every thought and you feel just "plain stressed out".

In any case, it always amazes me that it causes us to look down, drop our head, our shoulders slump, and we take on the posture of "one defeated". And I said "us" because I do it too.

We should be looking UP. Reminding ourselves of the things that are truth and unchanging, no matter what our circumstances may "look like".

We can not only conquer whatever lies before us today with Gods help, but we can more than overcome it. We can stand knowing we are victorious, no matter what the situation may "appear to be". (Romans 8:37)

We are not alone today and we cannot be separated from Christ's love. (Romans 8:38-39)

Our Father, who is greater than any, stronger than any, and more powerful than any....is for us. And since He is for us, who or what could possibly stand against us and win? (Romans 8:31)

So continue your day remembering Who is on your side. Who your defender and helper is. And what power and abilities He possesses.

This life is temporary. This is not our permanent home. We should focus on our real future, get through this day, then the next, then the next, until we are at home forever with God.

But let us not forget that God has asked us to share this message of salvation, hope, and eternal life with those around us. Lets focus on that today, and let God work out the "crazy little details" of our life. We are much better at the job He gave us and equipped us to do. We should let Him do His. (1 Peter 5:7)

If this blessed you today, please share it. Thanks.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Dream, Then Dream Bigger

I think that you have probably wanted to do something great at one time or another. For reasons known only to you, that dream never reached fruition. It's still there tucked deep within the recesses of your heart. You pull it out of your memory box on certain occasions and give it a brief moment of thought before safely tucking it back into its designated corner.

Here is a story..you might have heard it, but maybe it would be good for you to hear it one more time.

There was a little boy throwing starfish back into the ocean. They had all washed ashore during the storm the night before, and would soon die in the hot sun with no water. There were millions of them. All you could see was starfish no matter where you looked. This little boy was right in the middle of them.

One by one, he would carefully pick them up and throw them back into the ocean. He wasn't making much of a dent at all. So, I asked him, "Why do you keep doing that? It doesn't matter. You couldn't possibly save them all. There are too many. You are wasting your time. It just doesn't matter."

The boy stopped.....thought about it for a second, then as he reached down to grab yet another one to toss into the ocean he looked up at me and said, "Well, it sure mattered to THAT one."

Which brings me to this question. Did you not pursue your dream because that dream looked too big, too difficult, too daunting? I believe that dream was put into your heart for a reason.

Just like the boy and the starfish....just start. Even if there are a million more steps to go....you will never get there if you don't start somewhere. Go ahead, dream big. God is on your side.

Psalm 37:4(ESV)Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

When You Feel Like A Total MESS.

Sometimes as a Christian I can feel as if I have messed up one too many times. I can feel like God couldn't possibly use me.

Have you ever felt like that?

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Some of the most helpful teachings I have heard in my life were the ones where someone was brutally honest. They didn't fluff it all up and act as if their life was "picture perfect", and act like their life as a Christian was so easy or without failures. 

I don't want to be like that. I want to be open and honest so that my real life struggles will be of help and encouragement to someone else. So with that said, I will tell you that today, I am struggling. I am feeling like I have strayed away from my close relationship to God one too many times. 

I went from reading and studying the Word for hours a day, to reading ten minutes a day or not at all. I went from praying off an on all day to praying once a day. I know its not about how much you read, pray, or worship.....but its about the relationship. Its about WANTING to talk to Him, spend time with Him, and learn from Him. I have gotten complacent. I have gotten lazy. Because of this, I feel as if I have messed up...AGAIN. 

But, I will also tell you, I don't go by my feelings. I wont quit. No matter how I feel, or what life throws at me......I choose to serve God. I choose to get up, dust off, and keep going. 

So, what do I do at this point? I push forward. I continue to read the Word and study. I continue to trust Jesus to be my example, the Holy Spirit to by my guide, and God to be my defender and ever present help in times of need. 

I have found in life that you don't loose if you don't quit. Perseverance and endurance are great qualities to learn and acquire. 

I choose to believe that God is a God of miracles, a God of unlimited power and abilities, and a God who will never give up on me. He loved me first before I ever loved Him. 

The same is true for you.

Am I The Only One Who Notices?

At every Walmart and Grocery store you will now see a "self check out" line. Where you can ring up all your groceries, pay, sack them, and leave without ever having to talk or interact with anybody.

When you walk down the street now, even in neighborhoods, you will not get to have "eye contact" with anyone because every one is looking down at their Iphones. You definitely wont get to SAY hi to anyone, they are all too busy.

And speaking of phones, did you notice that no one ever calls anymore. They only text.

So, why do we have mouths anyway? Why do we have a voice? Is it so that we can sing off tune to ourselves in the shower in the mornings. Probably not.

We are able to speak for a reason.

The spoken word holds power. Even the Bible starts out with saying that "God said let there be light, and it was". In other places it says "Say to this mountain be removed and cast into the sea and it will happen......".

Does that mean that a written word is not as important? That is not what I am saying. I would be a hypocrite if I did. The Bible itself is the written word, is it not?

Our words are important. Whether it be the spoken word or the written word. Because of this, we have to be careful not to isolate ourselves and seclude ourselves. Its selfish. Why is it selfish? Because its kind of hard to be used by God for good if you are in a little box.

The gift you hold on the inside is like this story.

There was an old lady who lived in a very run down little house. The roof was leaking, the air and heat didnt work, and the bugs had decided that they liked living inside her house better than outside.

She had one prize possession in that house. It had been given to her when she was a little girl. It was a signed piece of paper with some numbers on it. She carefully put it in a frame and hung it on the wall. She took great care to keep it clean, cover it with plastic when the roof leaked, and checked the nail that it hung on periodically to make sure it was secure.

She really wanted to help others, but she didn't have anything to give or help them with she thought. Often times, she had to go without food because she didn't have any money. She was so poor. Her clothes had holes, her shoes didn't fit, and she couldn't even buy shampoo for her hair. So, what could she do for anyone, right?

After she died, someone came to clean the house. They took down that pristine framed item and looked at it with incredulous eyes. There on the wall of that broken down home was a million dollar check signed and dated 70 years ago.

You see, your like that. You are in possession of a treasure. God put it there. Even if you dont realize that you have it, you still have it. You have everything you will ever need to do what God has called you to do.

Dont know what it is? What comes easy to you? What makes you "light up on the inside" when you do it. If you still don't know....I have a simple solution. .....

Ask Him.

If this has blessed you today, please take a moment and pass it on. Thanks!

I Wrote This For You Today ~ Yes, I Am Talking To You. You Should Read It.

No matter what this day might "throw at you", or where your feet may lead you today.......if you are having the best day ever, or the worst...................If you are feeling strong and healthy, or sick and weak ~ You are loved, treasured, thought of, cherished, and you have and will always have someone on your side who is greater than anyone else. Has more power than anyone else. And thankfully, you can trust Him. (unlike anyone else).

Don't forget God today. He never forgets you. Don't forget His Son today. He died for you. Don't forget His Holy Spirit today. He is your guide and the one who lights your path. He chose to love us, to love you. Just the way you are. Right where you are. To Him, your worth it, JUST LIKE THAT.

Zephaniah 3:17 

For the Lord your God is living among you.

    He is a mighty savior.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

    With his love, he will calm all your fears.

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Shipwrecked Again : Every Humans Journey (Otherwise Known As LIFE)

Do you like boats? I do. I've never been on a big one, but I still appreciate them all. You are like a boat you know. I'm serious. Don't roll your eyes at me.

You are like a boat because of two things.......First there is the part that everyone can see. Shiny, polished, clean, and fabulous looking.

Then there is the second part. The part hardly anyone ever see's. That is the part under the water. Dirty, with all sorts of crud attached to it that it has acquired over the years.

Most people think..."Well, out of sight...out of mind. No one can see it, so who cares?" Do you agree? I don't.

Problem is this....what you do in the dark, in secret will eventually work its way to the outside. No matter how hard you try to hide it...it will become visible to those around you. Especially those closest to you.

JUST LIKE A BOAT.

You see, if you let a boats hull get corroded, its foundation will become weak and crack and get holes in it. What happens to a holey boat? It sinks, never to be seen or heard from again. If it has passengers, it takes them down along with it.

We need to always be aware of our "heart condition". It is important. It is your foundation, the base of who you are. If your heart is pure, it shows in your actions. It shows from the inside out. If your heart is evil...well, that becomes apparent as well.

Be a ship that is beautiful and admirable...not only on what can be seen on the outside, but also in whats underneath.

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

My 2.00 Dollars Worth

Lets compare love and money.

Have you ever seen an American $2.00 bill? I am 40 years old myself, and I have only seen it about a dozen times in my life. 

It is an interesting piece of money though.

It is still being printed, yet people THINK it isn't.  Some collect them because they think they are worth more than $2.00, but they are not. Some just hoard hundreds of them and keep them in their coin collection boxes. 

As of April 30, 2007 there were $1,549,052,714 worth of $2 bills in circulation worldwide. (according to the United States Treasury website) So, why do we not SEE them more often if there are so many of them? Because..........people hide them away.

Kind of like their love. 

We all possess the ability to love, but we keep it hidden in our hearts. We see people in need of it every single day, yet we don't share it. 

Love is like that $2.00 bill. It benefits NOTHING and NO ONE if you don't give it away. 

Don't be a $2.00 bill hoarder or a love hoarder. SHARE! 

Sometimes, even the simplest act of love can bring about a difference in someones else's life. What is a simple act of love? Give one of those $2.00 bills away to someone who needs it. 

Crazy Thoughts And What They Cause And What They Don't Solve

You can't depend upon your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ~ Mark Twain

A couple of days a week you will find me with some old rags, windex, and various other things busily cleaning someone else's house.

One of the ladies I clean for, has a husband with lung cancer. There is nothing the doctors can do for him. They just try to make him "as comfortable" as possible until the day that the cancer will finally consume him.

Grim, I know.

So as I was leaving, she walked me to the door just as she usually does. A real sweetheart this one. She almost closed the door when I remembered to mention something to her so I called out to her, "Diana!" She quickly opened the door again with her face full of questioning. Thinking that maybe I forgot something perhaps?

"Diana, remember that I had mentioned to you before that I took care of my dad when he had lung cancer? Well, he used to use a dehumidifier.............................".

As I proceeded to tell her the rest of the story she looked behind her quickly at her husband sitting in the chair and kept shutting the door more and more and she stepped outside onto the front porch.

I immediately started thinking that maybe I shouldn't have mentioned my dad having lung cancer so loud? Maybe they don't talk about  it? Maybe it upsets him? I just couldn't fathom any other reason why she would look at him then step outside and shut the door.

-----------------------------

Our imaginations can be good at times. It lets us be creative. Its the stuff masterpieces are made of. Sometimes on the other hand....imaginations can get us into trouble. When you don't know the facts, its easy to try to "fill in the blanks" with what you THINK or IMAGINE might be the reason or explanation.

Point is, sometimes we make mountains out of mole hills. I think that is why God told us to cast down all imaginations or anything that exalts itself against the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We don't add one ounce to our life by worry. Or fear.

I texted her later. I apologized for "possibly overstepping my bounds" by suggesting a dehumidifier for him. Do you know what she said she was doing when she shut the door? She felt the cold air from the air conditioner going out the door so she shut it so that she didn't let the cold air out. She was grateful that I shared the information with them about the dehumidifier.

This example may not be something you can relate to exactly, but I am sure you have fell into this trap of imagining what really isn't there. We all have. You see, the devil likes to try to blow things out of proportion so that we focus on the problem instead of the solution.

Just keep your eyes on the truth. The solution. In that moment, in that place, the peace enters and that problem doesn't seem so large anymore.

The Father You Never Knew You Had, But The One You Have Always Wanted.

A Fathers Love Letter To His Child

I know you thought I wasn't looking when it happened, but I saw. I know you felt alone, but I was there. When you cried, I caught the tears in my hand. The decisions that they made were wrong. It wasn't your fault.

You ran away from life, but I never left your side. You tried to hide, but I always saw you there. You matter to me. You have always mattered to me.

You thought I didn't care, but I did. I still do. You thought you were forgotten, but I think of you every day.

You were not a mistake. I have great plans for your life.

You are tired. Come to me and I will give you rest. Cast your cares upon my shoulders, and I will give you peace.

You thought there was no way out, no hope, no future. You thought you had made too many mistakes in your own life. But I created a way already.

I sent him to take your place. My Son paid for every mistake you have ever made. He took the beatings, the whipping, and the nails in his hands as they hung him on that cross. He died for you so that I can have a relationship with you and so that you will never have be apart from Me.

I am the Father you thought you never had. I love you, I will always love you.

I am waiting, and watching.......for you.

The "Do Over Card"

Stop, rewind, do over.

Wouldn't THAT be nice? You cannot even fathom how much I would like to have a "do over" card. One that I could submit after a horrible mistake or goof up, and get my life re-winded so that I can do that part of it over again.

Those cards are located in the same place as "money that grows on trees",  and "the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow"........they don't exist.

Sadly.

So, what do we do. Where do we go from here? If we can't rewind....are we doomed to wander around aimlessly in life? Like a blind man trying to stay on the crooked steep mountain path. Constantly and unknowingly, precariously close to the edge of disaster at all times?

Thankfully, the answer is NO.

Thankfully we have a forgiving and understanding Father who is full of mercy and grace and is willing to be our ever present help in times of need. Thankfully He hears our prayers, our pleas for forgiveness, and comes to our rescue.

Thankfully, He understands our weakness, our frailty, and has compassion on us. Because of this, He causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him.

Today, I am SO grateful of that fact.

Every One Wants To Be Skinny These Days.....

Every one is on a diet of some sort EVERYWHERE I look. So much time, money, and effort is put into making ourselves look good on the outside. I am right there with you. I step on that scale at least once a week, and I catch myself thinking about "weight loss" more than I care to admit these days.

Most people will admit that we have a body and a spirit. Even if they are not religious, or have a concrete faith.

Wouldn't it stand to reason that if we have to feed our bodies to get fat.....we would also need to feed our spirits as well? The difference is, we dont want our bodies to be fat...it causes health problems, fatigue, and in some cases early death.

We DO want our spirits to be fat, fat, fat though. That causes peace, health, and a stable life that feels like it is built on a rock and not on shifting sand.

Most of us look like spiritual anorexics though. If our spirit man were any skinnier, it would float away in the most gentlest of breezes. Not what we want to happen.

How do you feed your spirit? Glad you asked.

Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

1. The Bible Was Written By Divine Inspiration:

2Tim.3:16    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

2. God's Word Is Eternally True And Never Fails:

1Ki.8:56       There hath not failed one word of all His good promise

3. The Importance Of God's Word:

Deut.32:46,47 Set your heart unto all the Words...for it is not a vain thing for you; it is your life

4. God's Word Is Our Spiritual Weapon:

Eph.6:17 The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God

Heb.4:12 Word is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any...sword

1Jn.2:14 The Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.


So, I don't know about you...but that is reason enough for me to read the Bible every day. 8-)

If this has blessed you today, please take moment to pass it on.

Self Motivation ~ Some days you might be the only one who will.

So......... most of you reading this will shake your head "yes" in affirmation if I were to ask you: "Do you like to be praised for a job well done?" And why not? It feels good. Its a rush of adrenaline, and it puts a great big whopping smile on your face, right?

Problem is, in this world, most people won't care enough to take the two seconds it would take to say "good job", "well done", or even the words "thank you".

So, then what? Should you be mad because they are so ungrateful, or because they didn't notice how hard you worked? Should you do less next time, or just do a really poor job since they don't seem to care anyway?

I don't think so. I have found that if I keep my heart right, the rest falls into place. Kind of like this.....

Make sure that the things you are doing are for the RIGHT reasons. Whether that be in every day life, at work, church, or even in your own home.

For example, if you notice your neighbor needs their grass mowed and mow it (because its 2 foot high and looks like a snake infested jungle), be sure that you are mowing it because you want to help a neighbor out and NOT because they are loaded and you are hoping they will give you a crisp 100.00 dollar bill.

Now, if they offer it to you, great. If they say thank you, great. But if they don't, just feel good that you did the right thing. Be OKAY with that.

If that reason is not good enough, there is another reason to do good and what is right just because it is the right thing to do.

Have you ever heard of the saying "what goes around comes around"? Well, its true. If you are constantly saying negative things to others, constantly doing negative things to others, and basically living your life in the "negative realm", you are going to inevitably attract negativity back to yourself. No one likes that or really wants that.

But on the flip side of that, if we are always doing the best we can, giving the best we can, and looking for the best in others, we will inevitably attract positive things back to us. Like a positively charged, bright light-bulb, brightening up every room its in. Everyone likes that.

Be a light, it pushes away the darkness.