Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts

We all get down... you just don't want to stay there!

Posted: Saturday, September 13, 2014 by Unknown in Labels: , , , , ,
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Last week I put up a post on Facebook about bitterness and received a private message from a friend who asked a powerful question. She asked; “I liked your post today regarding you and Tracey... But what if it's underlying sadness that often comes out as bitterness. If we let go of the front that holds strong people stronger then we are often left with a crumbling wall of tears. Finding strength to pull past that, has proven difficult for me. Even trusting and relying on God makes me feel weak.”
(While this is a little long, I would like to share my reply here in hopes that it may add value to others going through the same struggles)



Let me start by saying that most people deal with negative emotions by putting up walls. We are all really two people. Who we really are and who we want the world to think we are. The closer the two people are, the greater the happiness and joy in your life. I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers for this one, but I would like to share a couple of thoughts that have been a benefit in my life as well as others.

1. List everything in your life you are grateful for.
No matter the cards you've been dealt, or whether this year has felt tougher than most, there's always something in life to be thankful for. There's also a good reason to find that something: Practicing gratitude and writing down your blessings takes your mind away from what’s wrong with your life and brings you back to what’s right in it. Then begin and end each day reading your list.

2. Make a mental decision that your best days are ahead of you.
Personally, sadness has always seeped into my life when I look at past failures, broken relationships, and regrets. It’s like at times I can get stuck re-reading the same chapter of my life over and over. At some point, I (you) must make a conscious decision to turn the page and move forward with your life. Life is always best when it’s spent looking through the windshield rather than the rear view mirror.

3. Be careful who you confide in.
Working through depression or sadness is an internal battle. While you may have a parent or spouse that can help you through it, more often than not, you create a bigger issue when you get others involved. Unfortunately, there are also people around you that will use it against you and are glad that you have them. When I have spoken with a friend about a problem that they really can’t “fix,” suddenly I have two problems… The original problem, and the reaction from my friend about my problem.

4. Replace your negative thoughts with positive ones.
While it is a difficult skill to master, one of the greatest powers that we have is the ability to choose one thought over another. A trained mind has the ability to decipher what thoughts serve them well and those that don't. While telling someone to “stop thinking about what makes them sad” may sound too simple, training yourself to choose which thoughts to dwell on is one of the best ways to find peace and happiness in your life. Like growing a garden, the only way to have a successful harvest is by regular weeding.

5. Trust in God.
As a Christian, the knowledge that I am not alone is what gives me strength. I admit that I don’t know all of Gods plans in my life… But I know that He has them and I am grateful to be part of them.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

May God Bless you!
You've got this!

It's Your Life... Don't Miss It!

Posted: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 by Unknown in Labels: , , , , , , , ,
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From time to time, someone will private message me criticizing me for posting a lifestyle picture or they will accuse me of bragging about my family, a recent purchase, trips, or something like that. It never really bothers me, but today I would like to explain why I post certain things.

Several years ago I went to a wedding for a close friend’s daughter. At the reception, in the middle of the first dance between his daughter and the groom, I noticed my friend starting to tear up. When I asked him if he was ok his reply was “I missed it.” “Missed what?” I asked. “Her whole life” he said. While this friend was financially successful, I wondered at that moment; “How much of his money would he be willing to give back in return for a few more years with his only daughter?” The experience reminded me of the John Lennon quote; "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

From that day on I stopped counting my life in just months, years and decades and decided to focus on having a good day… because, as my friend Kevin Knebl says; “Good days make up a good life.” The first thing I say every morning when I awake is; "Thank you God for another day.” The last thing I do each day is thank Him for my blessings and ask for one more. If the answer is no, I would like to believe that I am ready. That doesn't mean I'm looking to go right away, but if it's my time, I believe I am ready because I have thoroughly enjoyed my life.

Personally, I meet a lot of people that are “preparing” to get ready to live. They delay all the things they want to do on the hopes that one day they can. I used to be like that. I would say things like; “I will be happy once I am married”, or “once I buy a home.” I will be a success once I accomplish “this” or once I am able to do “that.”


So my thought for today is this… Yes, prepare for the future and be responsible but don't forget to live today! Take your kids golfing and enjoy a sunset. Plan a trip, buy a pet, sing out loud to a to a great song, laugh more. Tell more people that you love them and ask for forgiveness from someone you’ve wronged. Don't wait. Do it now, because that is all you are guaranteed.

This is your life… Don’t “Miss It!”

Carry on… ツ

Does your life “Wobble?”

Posted: Sunday, April 4, 2010 by Unknown in Labels: , , ,
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I never could throw a football…

Well, I could throw one, they just were never very "pretty." All my friends could throw a perfect spiral… not me. I could throw it a long way, but mine looked more like a wounded duck than a pass.

Then one day I discovered the Nerf Vortex football. Maybe you have seen one of these.

These are amazing! They take my imperfect throw and make them perfect. It was just in time too. My son is now old enough to notice the difference and I have an image to keep. Now I throw the ball and have confidence in my results. Thank you Nerf!

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Most teenage boys dream of conquering the world. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in every boy’s heart: to be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk, and I was no different. I was blessed to have many of these dreams come true while still in my early 20’s. I was married to the woman of my dreams, built up a million dollar business, lived in a nice neighborhood, owned toys and nice cars, but I found myself very unhappy. You could say my life had a “wobble” in it.

I spent the next few years of my life trying to figure it out. The world said I should be happy, but I wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my life, my family, & my friends, but something was missing. More money didn’t help, neither did a new toy or hobby. Then one day I had a friend invite me to a church service that was being held by some of his friends. I didn’t feel like going because I had given up on the Christ “thing” when I was 17. That said, he was a good friend so I decided to join him.

To say that day changed my life would be an absolute understatement. There were no fireworks, no out-of-body experiences, just a warm sense of peace and comfort that came over me when I accepted Christ into my life. It was “THE” missing piece for me.

Today, I am far from perfect. I make mistakes daily and often lose my patience with people and things. But with Christ in my life, he can take all my imperfections and straiten them out and give me confidence - Thank You God!

“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me” - Philippians 4:13

Today I am starting this new Blog. I will be discussing topics from all aspects of life.

I wanted my first post to start with the foundation of my life. My love for my lord and savior Jesus Christ. This you can not argue here… the rest of my random observations are fair game. :)

I wish you all a happy Easter, as for me, I am going to go play catch with my son. He got a brand new Nerf Vortex football from the “Easter Bunny” this morning.