8975372's blog: "Inspiring Reads ( God Hears Us & And Knows What We Need )"

We seem to complicate life ourselves...making it harder than it is meant to be. Faith in us and our dreams can bring us through anything. As each day brings a new challenge so should we bring a strength to succeed. Always smile and greet each day as you do people...with a smile and a friendly out reached hand to greet and make the best of it as you can...Moments will come and moments will pass... its what you choose to remember that lasts...Restrain yourself from complaining about something that you have no intention of changing...There are no mistakes, only experiences that teach us where the path is not...The reason people find it hard to be happy is they see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be...History is life's rear view mirror...It allows us to briefly look back and learn from our past so we can adjust our future positively and not repeat mistakes...know the dawn without a night...know victory without a fight...see the rainbow without the rain...know happiness without pain...know love without hate...know life without fear...For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26 ...A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. Ecclesiastes 6:2.

You need not stress over the things you can not change...Know that you create your tomorrow by what you do today...every decision you make maps out a path in your life...so choose wisely. You need to never allow yourself to be defined by others...You have a choice each day to define who you are by the actions you take and the conduct you present towards others. Learn not to make choices with consequences you can't accept...If You shoot yourself in the foot, then you're the one who has to walk on it. It is true that no matter the choices you make, someone won't like it. You need not worry about making anyone else happy...Because being selfish is okay every once in awhile...For you to help others you must learn first to be happy with you. Know that the choices in life you have to make are tough to make, but what you decide to do with your life and those choices, is entirely up to you...God never intended for us to be anything but happy...Remember that the Garden of Eden was our choice. God created us in his image and gave us domain over everything he created...When choosing between anything know that things come together and happen for a reason, follow your gut...If there is any hesitation there;then there is a good chance that is not the right choice for you...But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.They will soar high on wings like eagles. Isaiah 40:31...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11...

"God CAN and WILL use you!"

"God wants to use you! Don't believe the lie that you have to have all your stuff together, including any struggles we fight with daily, before God can use you. If God has called you to do something, by faith, just step out and put one foot in front of the other. He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5-Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”). If we all waited to do what God has called us to do until we felt like we had our struggles under control we would never get to the calling that God has called us to do. It's not about us it's about Him. If God has called you to do something then He will equip you. Again, He will equip you; we just need to be open and ready for the equipping! However, He does expect us to move out in faith first and then He will give us what we need (Acts 20:24-"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace..) God is good and faithful! Stay awesome!"

"The Face Without A Reflection (Identity)"

How many of us can say we truly recognize ourselves when we look in the mirror? We get older, our bodies go through changes, yes. But, I am referring to the spiritual side of things. We've all heard that the"eye is the pathway to the soul". We get up every morning, we look into the mirror while we brush our teeth, brush our hair, wash our faces and etc. Only just before we begin the rat race of life. We get off to work, grab some coffee, say hello to our co-workers and we're off!

The Word says we were created in God's own image.(Genesis 1:27-"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.") When you look in the mirror what do YOU see? Do you see a fleshly, aging body being enslaved to serve another day in the rat race or do you see the perfect creation (salvation/spiritual) God made and intended us to view ourselves as? Our spirit is eternal and will live forever, but it needs a body to dwell in, so that God's Will can be carried out. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we belong to Him from that moment on. God has a plan (task) for each of us to carry out while we are on this earth. It is up to us to accept it. And if we are truly serving Him and staying in communication with Him (prayer) we will eventually learn what that is.

It wasn't revealed to me until, I became physically disabled, to KNOW what my purpose was. I'm not saying it was God's will that this happened to me, but I know that He is using my current circumstances for the my good and His purpose (Romans 8:28-"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"). You all probably know it now, just by reading my post. But it is to encourage others that are going through really difficult times. And it's crazy, although I'm having a difficult time now, I find it peaceful to help others, we are instructed to do so in the Word (1 Thessalonians 5:11-"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"). You never know who you will meet that day that just needed a little encouragement. And your encouraging words could be the deciding factor needed to change the way they see themselves.

Now, you may not know what God's plans are for you right away, or you might. But sometimes we are given things in stages, once we finish one, we are on to the next. This is part of our maturing process, I'm finding this out. By showing us a little at a time and completing each stage, we are proven trustworthy by God to proceed on to the next step. If God gave us the BIG picture (exam), and we had not studied for it, we would not have a clue how to handle it or what we are doing. We are to draw our strength from the Lord. This process is our schooling, in which I call, "spiritual continual education". As long as we are on this planet, we will be always be learning and this causes us to grow in our relationship with the Lord.

So you see, when we look in the mirror, God wants us to see us in His Image; His Creation. The more time we spend with our Heavenly Father, the more we act like Him and LOVE people. Let me say this, it's important to love and care for yourself because this dictates our love and care for others. It's hard to love someone else when you don't love or care for yourself.

Little by little, the more time I spend with God, the better I start to like me and see the potential He created me for. And I can't do this if I'm self-loathing and treating others wrongly. We are called to sincerely love (action word) unconditionally (1 Corinthians 13:4-7-"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.")

The more time we are willing to spend with our Creator, the more we will want to emulate Him. This resulting in the reflection of the image of our Heavenly Father when we see ourselves. So, I leave you with a thought: How do you view yourself? And others?

"Life Is Short"

Today's post is short and to the point. But, it's one that I woke up thinking about a couple of weeks ago. None of us know the year, the month, the day, the minute, or even the second our time is up. Think about it for a minute. Life is short no matter how many years you live. Don't be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should. It's because life is so short, we should live for God while we have the time. Don't waste your life by selecting an inferior purpose that has no lasting value. Live for God- He alone can make your life worthwhile, purposeful and meaningful. Then, no matter when your life ends, you will have full-filled God's plan for you. So I leave you with one thought in James 4:14- "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes."

I believe that if we aren't happy with our life or situation...we need to realize that each day begins with hopes and ends with dreams...Everyday starts with some expectation but surely ends with some experience...that's life...Your life is a result of the choices you make... If you don't like your life or what ever is going on in you life...it is time to start making better choices...We need to realize that sometimes the road you travel doesn't lead to the destination you had hoped for. But if you can look back on the trip and still smile...then it was worth it...We all at one point find ourselves in a situation that we feel that we cant get through...When we de do we need to know that sometimes the hardest decision to make is the one that is best for you...we need to always trust our heart to do what is right...Always know that when choosing paths in life...don't choose the easy ones but choose the challenging ones that will make you a better person and stronger...Always know that a person that possesses true peace is not one without problems and turmoil, but is rather a person who has peace in spite of it...Today holds blessings and miracles that you don't even know of so grab a hold of today with hope and love and expect great things to happen. Sometimes life is going so fast we don't notice all the miracles God does for us everyday...Always believe in miracles...they come in all shapes and sizes...If you're looking for a miracle, just look at a leaf blowing in the wind, look at your children, look at the stars in the sky..and breathe in the essence of God...Look for the little miracles God puts in your life - the ones you overlook, waiting for something big to happen...Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up!!! Galatians 6:9...We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7...

Some times its hard to find the goodness around us...I feel that in those times when are,then it's time to step up and be an example of the goodness you wanted to find...I believe that there is a desire both good and bad in all of us...and I believe that what matters is the part we choose to act upon in any situation...when we do this we find our true selves. The world is full of negative as well as positive, whichever you direct your focus to, so shall your world become. We have to live and learn to respect simplicity and the simple things in life because things don't have to be complicated or sophisticated in order to be good and right. We need to know that being a good person does not depend on our religion, status in life, race, skin color, political views and culture, it depends on how we do good to others. Always think good thoughts. Speak good words. Take good actions...When you follow these simple acts you will see that they will bring more to you than you can ever imagine... Please know that one good deed can shift the balance of the whole world...so never underestimate the power of your goodness and kindness to others. Tomorrow is not promised to us, It is my belief that every morning we wake up is a blessing and means we are here still needed to make a difference in someone life...Never forget that when it comes to counting your blessings, you might have to shift your perspective a bit so that you can recognize the blessings for what they really are. Today be a blessing to someone else. Do something for someone for no reason. You will find out that sooner or later what goes around comes around. Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools,or you will become as foolish as they are. proverbs 26:4. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow." Isaiah 1:18..

Some times its hard to find the goodness around us...I feel that in those times when are,then it's time to step up and be an example of the goodness you wanted to find...I believe that there is a desire both good and bad in all of us...and I believe that what matters is the part we choose to act upon in any situation...when we do this we find our true selves. The world is full of negative as well as positive, whichever you direct your focus to, so shall your world become. We have to live and learn to respect simplicity and the simple things in life because things don't have to be complicated or sophisticated in order to be good and right. We need to know that being a good person does not depend on our religion, status in life, race, skin color, political views and culture, it depends on how we do good to others. Always think good thoughts. Speak good words. Take good actions...When you follow these simple acts you will see that they will bring more to you than you can ever imagine... Please know that one good deed can shift the balance of the whole world...so never underestimate the power of your goodness and kindness to others. Tomorrow is not promised to us, It is my belief that every morning we wake up is a blessing and means we are here still needed to make a difference in someone life...Never forget that when it comes to counting your blessings, you might have to shift your perspective a bit so that you can recognize the blessings for what they really are. Today be a blessing to someone else. Do something for someone for no reason. You will find out that sooner or later what goes around comes around. Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools,or you will become as foolish as they are. proverbs 26:4. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow." Isaiah 1:18..

I feel that in life we waste so much precious time striving so hard for perfection knowing very well that it doesn't exist...We need to learn that what we see and what others may see are at times different. I feel that we have to accept what we see because chasing perfection is exhausting and a waste of time. We need to accept who we are and stop trying to be what we aren't...when we do is when we will find true happiness. We should never apologize for saying what we feel. Don't strive for perfection because you will lose what you have now. Be patient and appreciate all the imperfections. Know that life is all perception...If you don't like something, change it, and if you can't change it, change the way you look at it. When David faced Goliath he didn't think his stone was too small...he believed Goliath was too big to miss...at times its how you look at things that matter. There will always be some people that see the glass half full and some see it half empty.I'm just thankful that I have a glass. The world is full of negative as well as positive, whichever you direct your focus to, so shall your world become. I feel that whenever we need a fresh perspective on life, we should listen to a child... Reminds us to see the world with innocence and grace, and replaces the value in ordinary...Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways. Proverbs 28:6..."What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, & what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9..

The path in life you choose is yours, so be wise. Think about where and what you want to be in life because you cannot blame anyone but yourself if you mess up. Always be willing to forgive others for their mistakes because when you forgive, you inspire change in both yourself and the other. Forgiveness has the power to transform people and create a better world for all. Know that life isn't about waiting on your happy ending, it's about figuring out what makes you truly happy and making it a reality. Never hate you for who you are or doubt your intuitions...Know that first you have to treat yourself with love and respect and we will attract people who show us true love and respect...I want people to feel the passion that I feel for life, the drive and focus that I have...To not just be interested in something, but to be deeply committed...We are to never feed our fears...Instead we need to feed our purpose, our passion, our creativity, our inspiration, our hopes, our Souls...let fear know that you will not acknowledge it ever...In the face of fear always smile like you've never felt pain, Laugh like you've never cried, and live like there's no tomorrow...Life is to short, so live it up,so laugh loudly, have fun, make memories, and never forget or regret anything that once made you smile. I'm not there yet but I strive to forget the things of the past and grasp the things that are in front of me now and press on to reach my goals.Phil 3:13..