I have come to realize that it is not only I who is concerned about misreading my intended path. In speaking with others, I am finding that this is one of the most common things that holds us back from giving Jesus 100% control. That, and of course, giving up our personal goals and dreams. For those who have true faith and choose to give control to Jesus, letting go of personal goals in dreams becomes a non-issue because Jesus’s path ultimately leads us to something much better, eternal life. Hence, the concern regarding following the correct path…
Lately, I have needed to remind myself of the importance of wearing my smile and spreading joy. This time of year can be both exhausting and beautiful. If I allow myself to get off focus, I feel stress taking over my inner peace. There is something very special about all the festivities this time of year, so long as I keep my perspective on the reason for the season. My expectation for myself is to keep the birth of Jesus as my focus. Keeping love, compassion, and kindness with me as I navigate the beautiful chaos of the holiday. Staying…
Prayer plays a major role in my life. It has evolved from something I did before I went to sleep to something that I carry with me throughout my day. Prayer moved from minutes every night to the most important element of my life. I have watched the movie Overcomer (2019) several times, and one particular scene is embedded in my mind. The Character John Harrison visits a man he has just met, named Thomas Hill, in the hospital. As John was leaving, he said, “Good to meet you, Thomas. I will be praying for you.” On John’s next…
Every year during the holiday season, I like to remind myself that not everybody shares the same expectations regarding the holidays and traditions, particularly when it comes to what makes us comfortable. Thinking about those who attend, I ask myself what might make the holiday more joyful for them and their families. Each year brings change to our lives, and aging relatives who may not wish to venture out during the holidays. The passing of friends and relatives, new marriages, extended family, and young children enjoying the celebration all change the dynamics of our traditions. Most years, my mother or…
Paraphrasing from a monthly Zoom call with Dr. Issam Nemeh, we need to get over it, get over ourselves, and get out of our own heads using our love. Taking our love, prayer, and forgiveness and putting them into action. Daily prioritizing living with a perspective of love. A kind of love that allows us to look at all things with kindness and compassion. When we love the Lord and our neighbors as written in the Commandments, we are better able to navigate the chaos in the world and focus on what helps us maintain peace as we move through…
Throughout my life, I have found it helpful to think before I act, hence the 24-hour rule. Before I act on what is bothering me, I give myself at least a day to evaluate the validity of the issue and how best to address the problem. Time seems to help me better focus on all sides of the issue. Thinking about why I feel the way I do, and is this really the issue, or is there something else interfering with how I feel? It is through prayer that I find my answers. The moment I feel stress, worry…
As we approach the holiday season, I like to remind myself to be appreciative of those around me. If, for some reason, appreciation is hard to find, then my go-to is attention wrapped with kindness and love. At times, we are pushed, stressed, and anxiety-filled due to expectations of the season. That might stem from what others ask of us, or it might be pressure we put on ourselves. Either way, it often takes patience as we move closer to the celebrations. I use prayer to center myself and navigate through the holidays. Asking Jesus to show me…
Time is very precious, and how we spend our time should align with what we value. Once we understand what is most important, our priorities, and what we value, we can better navigate how to spend each hour of the day. It’s not always easy to reflect on how we spend our time. We might spend more time than we realize thinking about what we have to do, rather than actually completing the task. Other times, we might have a list of errands to run that may or may not be a priority or reflect our values and how…
The reason I accentuate the positive is that I believe that all things are possible through Jesus. If I have faith that Jesus can do all things, then there is no room for negativity in my life. Moments of frustration occasionally, but I move quickly to prayer and refocus on being thankful. There are many things each day that I could consider negative or draining on my mental or physical state. I choose to block that perspective and pray my way through the day. Jesus knows my path before I do and understands why I need to suffer through some…
Joking with someone can be a true gift, but depending on how the humor is delivered, it can also be hurtful. On one hand, medicine for the soul, and yet, such a fine line based on how the joke is interpreted. Humor is a huge priority in my life and often a beautiful coping mechanism. Allowing myself to laugh at my mistakes, mishaps, or misfortunes is one way that I see light rather than dwell in the darkness. The important part of that statement is MY mistakes, mishaps, and misfortunes. Much of my day is spent laughing to myself about…