F.A.I.T.H. or F.E.A.R.

Most times people  put forth a persona of confidence, determination, and persistence that appears iron clad and impossible to break when actually it's just a mere picture of the pseudo self on the brink of collapsing and bowing in defeat.  It's not until we face fear for what it really is - False Evidence Appearing Real - that we can activate our faith - Fulfilling Agape Instruction Through Hope.  Think about different times in your lives when you opted "not" to do or say or be because what was in front of you appeared to be greater than you or your ability.  That was nothing but fear.  It seemed real, but in reality it was a false truth.  You had the experience, but you didn't have the education so you opted "not" to go after the job.  You had the time and even the resources, but you didn't have the brains of a scholar - so you opted "not" to go after the degree.  And the list goes on, and on, and on . . . How many times are you going to gracefully "bow out" when you have the capacity for F.A.I.T.H.?  Have enough confidence to believe in the authenticity of your faith.  God is, therefore, you can!

When It Really Matters

It's nice to have others there when life is a bliss and laughter is in the air.  When it really matters the most is when someone is there to lend a shoulder to lean on.  There are times in all of our lives when the roses aren't red and the glass appears half empty.  During those times, a word of encouragement, a smiling face, a conversation while walking through the park or any gesture that translates "I care and I'm here for you," could mean the world to the one in need.  Take the time to reach out to someone today.  If you don't, you'll never know that you were the one they needed when it really mattered the most.

Celebrate Your Life

To observe, to make known publicly, to praise widely . . . all of these are definitions for celebrate.  The question is how often do you take the time to celebrate your life?  Life is more than mere existence.  It's more than just being here.  You have a presence that is loving, lively, spirit-filled, resilient, harmonious, compassionate, and life-giving!  The year 2010 is more than half the way gone.  Some have celebrated the day of their birth and for some that day it yet to come.  But, more than celebrating a moment in time like a birthday, you owe it to yourself to celebrate who you are.  Because being who you are is an everyday thing.  There should be some kind of observance, public notice, wide-spread praise in honor of you.  If no one else is willing to do it, you should.  Think about what you've accomplished, what it took for you to achieve.  You're no run-of-the-mill, second-class citizen waiting for a hand-out.  You're a go-getter, a visionary, an awesome example of magnificence in human form.  You are YOU and no one can do you better.  Celebrate your life!  Celebrate You!  You deserve it!

Cultivate Your Ground

Like the farmer and the gardener, you've got to be ready to sow your seed in good ground.  However, the ground here refers to your life.  Many times we make investments in our lives and get very little in return.  One reason may be we haven't taken the time to ensure our lives are fertile enough to nurture the planted seed.  Are we really ready for a harvest to spring forth?  Have we really taken the time to fertilize our lives with the substance to sustain us through a season of growth?  Think about your thoughts.  A fertile life is one sustained through positive, healthy thoughts.  One not easily deterred by distractions.  One that can take any situation and add a positive spin and take it as a lesson learned.  Think about your actions.  If your thoughts are positive, then your actions will be the same because your thoughts fuel your actions.  A fertile life is one reinforced through doing the "right" thing, doing the "necessary" thing, doing what "must" be done even in the face of challenges.  It is important to pay attention to what you are feeding your life.  What you feed your life fertilizes it.  What books are you reading?  What music are you listening to?  What type of entertainment are you indulging in?  What kind of people are you engaging?  All of these things must be taken into consideration.  They make be the difference between a seed that grows and one that dies.  Take the time to cultivate your ground.  Make it as fertile as possible.  It's the only one you've got!

Do It Again!

"If at first you don't succeed, do it again!"  That's not quite how the old adage goes, but it's what it means.  There are times in each of our lives when it appears that most our efforts end in failure.  It seems almost like we can't win for losing.  Somehow, for every one step we take forward - it equals two steps backwards.  However, be encouraged today and know success IS trying, giving all you can at the time you gave.  When you try, you never have to wonder about what it would be like "if " . . . and most times when you want it bad enough, you're willing to Do It Again!