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…
Have you ever experienced something that you wanted to do, you believed in, but you were not ready or not willing to step out and give it your all, as in a state of being lukewarm? Maybe you liked the cause but were not willing to give up your time. Something you were interested in but nervous about people finding out you were actively participating. A time when you were comfortable with your life and you were not ready to disrupt the routine. Personally, I have experienced all of these many times. Time is one that has always been very…
We get to choose what weapons we use in our everyday life. When conflict arises we make decisions as to how we are going to react to the warfare around us. Focusing on love, kindness, and compassion helps us better manage our weapons. The question I hear most often is, “How should I respond to this, what should I say?” My answer is always the same, the truth. Whatever you choose to say, make sure it is the truth. Often we can think of numerous reasons to want to say something other than the truth, but that doesn’t make…
There are days when I work at moving through my day but I seem to continue to find roadblocks in my way and failures mounting. I find the easiest task that would normally take me little effort is thrown off by the slightest hiccup. The big tasks are difficult to start and my eyes want to close the moment I begin. Getting up on the wrong side of the bed might be an old saying, but it often applies to my not-so-successful days on the job. A very important part of moving forward through failures is starting with…