In life, I look to avoid tricks and strengthen the treats. This chaotic world does not make it easy to identify tricks and treats. Tricks are often wrapped in beautiful packaging looking too good to be true. Sometimes we convince ourselves that the beauty is real, but deep down we know what’s in the package is not authentic. We might sense that something is off but still want to hold onto the dream that it is real and kind. Disregarding the pit in our stomachs, forging forward through the mud until we hit the dead end. Hindsight tells us…
Should we or shouldn’t we, the question of resistance. As we hold on to control what we do and don’t resist, becomes ours to decipher. When we let Jesus take the reins, we simply follow the path of peace. Giving control to Jesus is simple, but not always easy for those of us who like to know where we are going. In this case, we are totally surrendering to Jesus and the path he intends for us to follow. It is likely we might not want to do some of the things on that path. We might even…
It’s not often that we get an opportunity to slow down our life. We can’t turn back the clock, but we can do what’s important with the time that we have available to us. We can evaluate how we use that time and make choices that align with our priorities. That means we first have to identify our priorities. That is not easy particularly when life brings great chaos. Most of us probably have a handful of priorities we can articulate immediately. But are we living our lives according to those priorities? Are we spending our time…
Some might take it as a bit delusional, but no matter the circumstances I choose the upside. I understand many people have lived through more pain and suffering than I have, but I have yet to find a time when light was absent. Each hiccup gives us an opportunity to become stronger or stressed. When I tell my kids to look for the light, the positive, the upside, they often reply, “What upside?” Often, it is hard to see the rainbow through the storm, but if one searches for light, I believe one will always find hope. Prayer is my…
My spiritual growth soared as my definition of love was redefined. My faith has been strong most of my life, but it was not until I was introduced to Dr. Issam and Kathy Nemeh that my definition of love changed. The importance and role of love is known to many, but how many of us live with love? Kindness and the golden rule were at the forefront of my life, but I did not live with love. This is not romantic love, but living life with love and compassion for all. I didn’t realize I could love people I…
I often think about how motivated we are when we find something we are able to acquire for free. Some might be motivated by a free logo item, food, beverage, and/or admittance to an event. For me, it’s all about knowing that I can live with inner peace for free. There is no secret to obtaining peace, the answer is through love. One simply has to address all aspects of life with love. This is a selfless love. It means choosing to move through life from a perspective of compassion. Not taking the bait to fight. Knowing there…
I will never know how often I have walked past the opportunity to provide a second chance to someone in need. But I have learned to look beyond what I see, ask questions, and offer a plan for success. I was responsible for a division of a company and had an employee who was not responding well at work. It was not a matter of being unlikeable or rude, but underperformance. When listening to management, it did not seem to be an issue in the past. I was concerned for her and the performance of our team. Before hearing the…
What comes to mind when one hears the word luxury? We all have our perspectives on what we classify as extravagant or difficult to obtain. One might assume that most people think of expensive cars, homes, jewelry, travel, and toys. All of which are things that require substantial funding. Clint Eastwood was quoted as saying, “Don’t look for luxury in shops, don’t look for it in gifts, don’t look for it at parties, don’t look for it at events. Luxury is being loved by people, luxury is being respected, luxury is having parents alive, luxury is…
If I had read the title, “Look For Love” 10 years ago, I would have assumed it was regarding romantic love. Thankfully, my definition of love has broadened immensely. Reading this title now, I know that it means looking at everything from a perspective of kindness, compassion, and love. It means finding the light in every situation. Ninety-nine percent of what happens can be horrible, but I choose to believe in the one percent of hope. Because I believe all things are possible through Jesus, I always have hope. Negativity is not an option. I am uncomfortable the moment…
I want to encourage everyone that hope is here. This world is hitting believers very hard, and I am hearing moments of discouragement from many. I am here to provide hope and to say stay the course—the journey is worth the fight! I am hopeful, living in the moment, knowing that Jesus has my back. Worry and stress are not part of my life because I have given control to Jesus. I live each day with inner peace, striving to love others more than myself. Being thankful and prayerful gives me hope and the right perspective to carry me…