I learned a valuable lesson about disappointment. Put very simply, despite various disappointments love conquers everything. Having love in your heart doesn’t prevent you from disappointment, but it provides a framework as to where to start and offers a different perspective. It makes it less about me and more about countering the disappointment with kindness. I can be criticized, walked over, or sat on, but because I have love in my heart, there’s something that enables me to get up again. Something that tells me that disappointment doesn’t deserve anger. That something that picks me up is…
Over time we often forget some of the details of our lives. Some things become easier over time as our memories fade. Other things are enhanced by a gentle reminder. Monuments often provide a reminder of important things that have happened in history. As we view the art our minds focus on the events of that time period. It is a gentle reminder of history; a person, event, or era. As I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible the reading touched on the importance of incorporating reminders into our lives. Things that will help us reference important personal events…
John Lennon’s song, All You Need Is Love, has been playing in my mind this past week. From podcast to televised church service the common theme has been we are what we believe. The concept that positive thoughts and actions bring about positive outcomes has long been a topic of discussion among those closest to me. I see things in terms of the cup 1/2 full and find very little cause to worry. While others find it very difficult to address all circumstances from a perspective of love and tend to hang on to stress and anxiety. I…
Recently I was speaking to someone who was trying to decide how to tell a friend that they could not accept the invitation. This person didn’t want it to seem like an excuse, because it wasn’t. My advice was, to tell the truth. It would be pretty embarrassing if something else was given as an excuse and it showed up on social media, or worse in person. Knowing there are many ways to approach the topic; I mentioned two, addressing them bluntly or with some explanation. If the person is someone I want to be a true friend…
I love to find ways to make things simple. Have you ever experienced being around something that is delivered in a complicated manner despite no apparent reason? When that happens I tend to lose the message all while creating a simpler version in my head and moving on to other issues that are flooding my mind. The world needs detail, expertise, and brilliant minds. But not all of us can process the basics while drowning in the detail. Each of us has expertise in various areas. Even if we think we don’t, we do. If I had to work…
Stepping out of my comfort zone and believing, without a doubt, that all things are possible has led me to a life of inner peace. The power of believing for me includes releasing my worries and giving control to Jesus. I am fortunate that I am able to believe before I see the results. For many, believing in something that is not tangible or visible is paralyzing. The thought of leaving the results up to anything other than one’s self leaves many filled with anxiety. Ironically, I never experienced total inner peace until I released control to Jesus. It…
I have spent the last 15 years attempting to instill in my children that appearances do not make you whole, happy, or bring you wealth. It is love, service, prayer, and Jesus. Having faith that the steps that you take each day are building a solid foundation for loving and serving others. Yes, it is difficult to trust that loving and serving others will put us in a position to have everything we need. My family has what we need and much more. However, often what we have are not the things that are flashy on social media. At times…
Expectations are defined as strong beliefs that something will happen in the future. Those expectations can lead us to be hopeful but they can also create issues. Problems arise when we get hopeful based on flawed logic or assumptions. Most of us form expectations. Some of us do a better job than others in managing those expectations and creating a more balanced life. Social media, print media, advertisements, and our circle of influence all play an enormous role in how people today set their expectations. We think we are making decisions based on what is real, but how much of…
Pure love brings no limitations. Everywhere we are God is around. Our love for others brings out the power of God. As we journey through life with love our purpose becomes more clear to us. God sees our intentions and rewards love. At a time that is unknown to us, we will be reverting to the perfect origin. Each of us is an important part of the redemptive act. We have a purpose. As we find pure love our purpose becomes more clear. Are you able to love everything that you encounter? At first, I was taken aback by the…
I can think of many wonderful experiences regarding riding in a car. Over my lifetime it has often been one of the only places where I had time to myself. Time to pray, relax, and prepare myself for whatever was next on my agenda. For the most part, driving a car has always been a peaceful experience. Yes, I lived in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City, so I understand traffic and frustration, but for me, it was all part of my daily routine. I chose to view it as a time to recharge. This past week I saw a…