It takes self-control to conquer evil with good.  Allowing someone to blow off a little steam yet responding with compassion in your voice and nonverbal communication. Some of the most difficult times for me to respond with love are when I’m caught off guard and tired.  I can handle difficult situations, but when I walk into a tense situation or am involved in something spontaneously, I need muscle memory to help me quickly respond in the desired way. When thrown into the boxing arena, I want to stay calm and tactical.  I am not an experienced fighter and…

Trusting the process is often difficult when we see results.  When we trust in Jesus we are doing so without seeing.  We can gain knowledge from The Bible,  witness miracles, attend church, participate in bible studies, worship through the arts, fellowship, prayer, etc.  For me, it boils down to love and trust in Jesus.   Without a doubt, I trust that Jesus has my back.  Things don’t always go the way I anticipate or desire, but I trust without waiver.  The inner peace I feel when I live every day from a perspective of love is something I am unwilling…

Everyone’s potential is uniquely their own.  We all have different strengths and weaknesses to refine if we are up to the challenge.  If we are open, Jesus will work with us to help us reach our highest potential.  It is important for me to set aside some time to focus on my physical and mental self, but sometimes I forget to think about how others perceive me.  How well am I communicating to others and how well am I received? It is a challenge, but I work at shutting out all the chaos around me and focusing on refining…

Each of us has a purpose in life.  It is unlikely that we will leave this earth before our purpose is fulfilled.  The difficult part is we don’t usually know our purpose.  As we walk our intended path, it becomes clearer, but it is often not disclosed.    As I become more prayerful my path becomes more clear.  That doesn’t mean I understand my purpose or have a clear direction regarding God’s plan for me.  But I am able to better move forward as I wait for the plan to be unveiled.  When I surrender control to Jesus…