Time is a Gift

Time is the gift that you do not get back. Yet you and I take it for granted. We don't appreciate certain moments because they do not feel like gifts. We miss the lesson.

The richness of life is being able to differentiate the bad and the good; what's missing and what you posses, and what is worth the investment; be it people, places and of course, time.

Time is what you give people or a place, be it a job, a home, a church, a trip, etc. The more time you pour into some one, some place or something, the more valuable it becomes to you. For that reason, it becomes a contradiction when you tell someone you love them or care about them and don't make time.

It's not because you're not spending time with them that becomes the offense. It's because time is precious and as it moves forward, you have less of it here on earth.

The world is full of regrets because of the unsaid I love you's, the missed opportunities of I forgive you and the sudden realization that time is limited or has run out.

Gosh this a challenge, right...to become conscientious of how time slips by, but better to plan, reach out and say what's on your heart then miss out, be pained and even regret.

Live...conscientious of time. Remember time is a gift.

God is Listening

So Rich shared about a time where a young man was shot and he happened to be in the vicinity. He explained that he took the young man's face in his hands and told him that he was going to die and pass into eternity. As blood spurt out of his chest, Rich asked the young man to ask Jesus to forgive him. His last breath was taken with those words.

When I asked my hubs if I could post this, he reminded me of another time that a similar shooting had occurred with another young man. Weeks later, he approached that particular young man's mother after she left the courtroom in tears. He explained that he was the last one to be with her son and he had prayed with him right before he died. The woman collapsed. She had been praying for her son for years.

When I heard the first story, the first thought that came to mind was that there must have been a praying mother somewhere.

Some of you mothers with children with issues need to be reminded that God answers prayers. It may not be the answer that you envision but He never leaves a prayer unanswered when it comes from a mom...no matter how late she thinks it is or was.

Be encouraged tonight. God is listening.

Beautiful

Beautiful. The word that is used to express how attractive something or someone is. It’s a word that often brings a smile to the lips of a woman. At times she can be taken aback or be dismissive, depending on the seriousness, the moment, the feelings that are enveloping her.

Beautiful describes the heart of many women who are selfless and give without expectation. Beautiful are those women who day after day, care for those they love. Beautiful are those women who teach each and every day through their actions and not just with their words. Yes beautiful.

Each day we are graced with beautiful women who allure those around her not by their physical nature but by the gentleness of their spirit and the enticement of their kind heart.

Beautiful is such a thrown-around word in society and equates to the curvaceous model that strides the runways. Perhaps that’s why our women no longer believe that phrase when addressed to them. The competition with gorgeous models makes one shrink when the natural inclination of an ordinary women’s mind goes automatically into comparison mode.

Beautiful is a word that lifts the spirit and elates the heart of the receiver.  It's the affirmation that every little girl, every young woman, every single woman regardless of age should receive throughout her lifetime. And yet, even when said, why does she still cringe and compare even when she knows logically that she shouldn’t?

Why not relish it, revel in it and accept it? Why not? What will she lose? What will you lose?  

Be beautiful. You are beautiful. Accept the compliment and pay it forward.  

Glass House...More Thoughts

Glass allows you to look in and, in most cases, is fragile. Often people are critical of others and ignore the fact that their house is also made up of glass.

Kindness goes a long way and is not limited to actions filled with compassion. Actually kindness is also tied with what comes out of our mouths.

When we view others as glass, we become careful with our actions and words. We don't want to crack them. We want to polish them...to edify. It doesn't matter the fault, we want to cover them with love...again in actions and in words.

Glass House

There are times when you can see your reflection on glass. Women especially love it because she can do a quick check of makeup, hair and wardrobe.

How you get dressed internally matters also. Your personality, your reaction and how you roll is reflected in your do and words. It is a reflection of what is going on inside of you.

Freedom in Forgiveness

The absence of an action when it comes to forgiveness means you have not extended the pardon required. Why is it required?  It is a process towards freedom.

Sometimes we wonder why God puts certain mandates and when one looks at the entire picture of life, there’s a realization that life in bondage is not living. With unforgiveness come resentment, anger and bitterness. All these things eat one up inside emotionally, physically and spiritually. It rages war on a person mentally. There is no good that comes from it.

When you surrender your will to hold a grudge, to hold one self or another hostage by punishment, you open up a door to receive love instead of the choice to harbor the ugliness called hate. The bible says that love covers a multitude of sin and that includes your own. Once you establish that no one is perfect, you become kinder towards the one person that is most important in your life.

Many people do not like the topic to forgive when it comes to themselves because it forces them to look within painful areas that have been dismissed or buried. The action required will cost them, but they fail to see the rewards they will reap because of it. Part of misery stems in unforgiveness. The person who constantly complains has not forgiven their inner person. The person who lives in resentment, hasn’t forgiven their choices. The person who whines about how unfair life is hasn’t extended grace to the face that reflects back in the mirror.

A step toward self-forgiveness is hard, but not impossible. It begins with saying the words “I forgive myself for” and inserting the words that have been buried perhaps for a life time. It requires a repeat of those words over and over again until it settles the heart and mind.

Not to accept forgiveness is hypocrisy.  It is a slap in God’s face when you use that excuse.

Today I challenge you to begin the process of freedom. Don’t let the difficulty or the temporary ugliness of it deter you. Be brave and know that the outcome is for your good, your growth and ultimately, for your freedom. 

Pursuit

I think one of the movies that I disliked the most was The Pursuit of Happiness. Although it had powerful messages, my take away was the feeling of a lot of sadness and despair. The triumph at the end was not enough to make me feel elated. I didn't walk away happy. For some reason I couldn't shake off the sadness it made me feel. There was just too much of it.

Life can be exactly like that. You can go through so much sadness that when things get better, you find it hard to shake off the sadness or stress.

Your life is meant to be full of happiness. It requires a pursuit. You have to pursue happy thoughts, positive words, good choices, positive outlook, good friends and the grit to keep with it.

There will be times when life will throw you negative, devastating curve balls. However, if you've been living on the side of sunshine, that light should dissipate the darkness rather quickly. Your view, your perception is always a choice.