09.26.08
Posted in Inspiration, My Life at 8:42 pm by Administrator
Have you ever thought of those three little words…or sang the sweet little song most of us learned when we were young?
Jesus Loves Me This I Know
For The Bible Tells Me So
Little Ones To Him Belong
They Are Weak But He Is Strong
Yes, Jesus Loves Me-Yes Jesus Loves Me
Yes, Jesus Loves Me -Because He Tells Me So.
(Okay, I changed the last line a bit -forgive me- I would rather He tell me so!)
Of all the travels in my life -Spiritual, Emotional and Physical- These have remained constant. I haven’t always acknowledged this simple fact but have, however, always known it was true.
A month or so ago I had the honor of hearing Billy Grahms daughter, Gigi, speak. Oh, the stories she had to tell about her dad! (This, I am sure, will be Destin one day telling stories on me!) One thing she said that stood out was in all of her dad’s speaking and in everything he had to say to the millions of people he had been in front of, he ALWAYS looked out to the people and said, simply, “Jesus Loves You, Jesus Loves You, Jesus Loves You.” That’s when it hit me.
Having grown up with many different views on chrisianity, religion and the spirit world I believe I may be as open to what just is as anyone. I know spiritual truths just are -no matter what personal beliefs you hold. I know we come from the same creator -no matter what personal beliefs you hold. I know it is not for me to determine your beliefs or life path -no matter what personal beliefs I hold. It is for me to live a life with love for all life and people no matter your choices. You are still a part of me in spirit and since Jesus loves you it makes it really easy that I love you as well.
As a Christian it is to live my life Christ Like. It is to live a life simply of forgiveness and love. When I try to complicate it with what I should be doing, need to be doing or must not be doing right, I go back to my simple prayer:
“Lord Jesus, YOU did not make this relationship with you complicated. When I am doing something I shouldn’t be -convict me. When I am doing what you would want me to do -give me peace. When I am not sure a direction to take -keep me still. In all of this I ask for Wisdom and Discernment to know what IS.”
Above all, in everything I do and in all of life circumstances, I will remember the most simple of all Jesus Loves Me and in remembering this, I will also acknowledge it!
Permalink
09.12.08
Posted in Inspiration at 5:09 pm by Administrator
In posting the letter - Forget Love and Try Good Manners, from ‘The Divine Secrets Of The Ya Ya Sister Hood’- and doing some reading and contemplating this weekend (how odd *smile*) it has occurred to me how very true the statement is “Forget Love, Try Good Manners.” In observing couples and the way they treat each other…the question posed is “Why do you stay?” The answer invariably is “Because I love him/her.” Give me a break! And, in talking to friends and letting them know that I am dating again and intentionally searching for the love that comes from being connected to another soul, I hear very often ~maybe from the ones that aren’t happy~ “maybe in your search you will realize you are better off single.” I am very well off single. I love being single. I love being independent and self sufficient, I love taking off on a Friday night and doing my thing…not reporting to anyone. But I miss being in a monogamous relationship. I miss the connection to that one other human being that you can count on and has your back no matter what. The one who looks for you and wants to be with you and you with them. Because you enjoy them! Because you want to be in their company! Because you respect them! Because you have compassion and genuinely care what is going on and what happens to them. So, back to my original thought. Love has nothing to do with it if you haven’t learned how to love. If you haven’t learned how to love~in a genuine, honest, thoughtful, you mean the world to me way~ Start with good manners.
Permalink
05.21.08
Posted in Inspiration at 6:58 pm by Administrator
Don’t look now, Lord! I don’t want you to see me standing here with my big foot crammed in my mouth.
Don’t worry, child. If I didn’t love you just as much with your foot in your mouth, I’d hardly ever get a chance to love you. ~Susan L. Lenzkes
Permalink
03.01.08
Posted in Inspiration at 7:10 am by Administrator
The Four Agreements®
1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible. One single agreement is not such a problem, but we have many agreements that come from fear, deplete our energy, and diminish our self-worth.”
“In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible.”
In this powerful book that has remained on The New York Times Bestseller List for over five years, don Miguel reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. When we are ready to change these agreements, there are four deceptively simple, yet powerful agreements that we can adopt as guiding principles. The Four Agreements® offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. www.miguelruiz.comAvoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
Permalink
01.22.08
Posted in Inspiration at 1:57 am by Administrator
It’s been a good day, Lord. Yes, a very good day. I didn’t realize it while it was happening. There were many frustrations. I was very discouraged when the letter I was praying for didn’t come. Then the telephone rang, bringing good news.
When a child was carried home from the playground hurt and we rushed him to the hospital, you knew my awful fears. But to learn that it wasn’t really serious brought a sense of heightened joy. (Sheer releif can generate sheer bliss.)
So now the child is asleep, with the bandage slipped rather comically from his head. My husband stands in the yard, leaning on his rake as he visits with a neighbor.
Other children come spilling across the yard. The sun is a golden glory behind the trees. I can smell the pot roast mingling with the tangy fragrance of burning leaves.
I look back on this day with its usual ups and downs. Its moments of anguish, and its moments of gratefulness and joy. And now that it’s ending, an aching awareness fills me. I realize that it’s been a good day, Lord. A very good day.
For it’s been filled with life. The life you have given me to cope with, and to contribute to. And I wouldn’t want to have missed it, not a single moment of it. Thank you, God for this good day. ~Marjorie Holmes
Permalink
01.14.08
Posted in Inspiration at 9:26 am by Administrator
This is a letter written to Linda from her girlfriend, Kendra. The story behind the letter is one that most of us would recognize. Many will be able to empathize with Linda or cheer for Kendra and hopefully all of us will enjoy a part of it. Beautifully written Kendra! You make me smile!
Sister, I am so sad that Michael is now having such a reversal in his surety. Seems like this is a trend since August with many couples going through separations. I empathize with your tender spirit and the aching of your heart resonates with my own pulse. I swear, when I finally get to meet whoever is writing this life script, I am going to have words with the Celestial Sadists. You sound so brave, it shames my own tendency toward tantrums, keening and wailing, gnashing teeth and renting my clothes. I do aspire to keep my vision, but I am weak and easily suffer the Aires-born childlike pangs from abandonment and fury from injustice. I mean, what, pray tell, is there NOT to love about us? We are extraordinary women, far evolved in all aspects, ready to recognize and treat our partners as divine beings. If I ever am accused again of being TOO KIND or TOO LOVING, I believe I shall instantly morph into the Tasmanian Devil and show my accusers ass what base instincts thrive in this redhead’s soul. Is it that we must truly be manic for them to want to stay? Sigh… I spent way too many years battling my darker side, and now I find it’s the attractive one. What’s a woman to do?
And so I breathe. And you breathe. And we dance and pray and light our candles to keep the darkness at bay. And find our shredded hearts mended by our womenfolk. Were I there I would rock you in my arms and stroke your hair until you had had enough.
I pray, FERVENTLY, that this year is a year of reaping our just rewards in love and in life. May Michael’s veil of doubt be burned away by his awareness of the bounty he has in your love. And soon. The waiting for what is to be is cruel.
Permalink
Posted in Inspiration at 2:58 am by Administrator
There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you, let them walk.I don’t want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you. Staying attached to you. I mean, hang up the phone!When people can walk away from you, let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can’t make them stay. Let them go.And it doesn’t mean that they are a bad person. It just means that their part in the story is over. And you’ve got to know when people’s part in your story is over so that you don’t keep trying to raise the dead.You’ve got to know when it’s dead. You’ve got to know when it’s over. Let me tell you something. I’ve got the gift of good-bye. It’s the tenth spiritual gift. I believe in good-bye.It’s not that I’m hateful, it’s that I’m faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have, He’ll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat, I don’t need it! Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!If you are holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you and was never intended for you life, then you need to let it go! If you are holding on to past hurts and pains, let it go! If someone can’t treat you right, love you back and see your worth, let it go! If someone has angered you, let it go! If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge, let it go! If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction, let it go! If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents, let it go! If you have a bad attitude, let it go! If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better, let it go! If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship, let it go! If you keep trying to help someone who won’t even try to help themselves, let it go! If you’re feeling depressed and stressed, let it go! If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying “take your hands of of it,” then you need to let it go! Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. God is doing a new thing! Let it go! ~Bishop TD Jakes
Permalink
12.25.07
Posted in Inspiration at 6:39 am by Administrator
A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept only the best ~challenges herself to give the best.
Then she is living phenomenally. -Maya Angelou
Love it, Girlfriends! Remember to take care of YOU! Remember to soak in a hot bath with a cold glass of ice water at your side. Remember to light the candles and put on some old soft rock, jazz -whatever makes your heart sing- and just breath. Remember to stretch. Sit up a little straighter and get the kinks out. Remember your facial moisturizer -okay, that is to make you smile-…
Whatever it is you are doing this season, just Celebrate! For some it is Christmas and for some it may be other traditions or meaningful times, but remember to Celebrate! Celebrate being the woman you are, the friends in your life and the joy that comes from living a life phenomenally! -Rachel
Permalink
11.27.07
Posted in Inspiration at 4:02 am by Administrator
-By Dale Wimbrow
When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day. Just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say.
For it isn’t your Father or Mother or wife, whose judgment upon you must pass. The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life, is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may call you a straight shooting chum, and call you a wonderful guy. But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum, if you can’t look him straight in the eye.
He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he’s with you clear to the end. And you have passed your most dangerous test, if the man in the glass is your friend.
You may face the whole world down the pathway of life, and get pats on the back when you pass. But your final reward will be heartache and strife, if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Permalink
11.21.07
Posted in Inspiration at 7:14 am by Administrator
All relationships have the same basic components: people, needs and expectations. Try as we may to keep the needs and the expectations stuff in order, we usually get so caught up in them that the pure essence of the relationship is lost to what we think we should be doing and what we expect should be done. Sometimes the needs are very real. Other times they are not. Sometimes the expectations are based in solid reality. In most cases, they are not. Sometimes the expectations of having needs met are placed upon us. At other times we place them upon ourselves. What we fail to realize before it is much too late is that when love is the foundation of the relationships, all needs and expectations are met without any effort on our part.
Excerpt from Iyanla Vanzant -In The Meantime
Permalink
« Previous entries
