I Am Thankful

November 9th- I am thankful for vehicles, food, a warm home and a soft bed.

Salt And Light

We are called to be the salt and light For The World. Matthew 5 says being salt and light is not optional, Jesus did not say you can be or you have the potential to be. He said we are.

The Bible continually challenges us to know who we really are after Christ Jesus has come into our life and saved us from the power of sin. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Here it is directly from scripture:

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flovour, how will it be seasoned? It is thing good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Not do they light a lamp and put in under a basket, not on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify you Father in Heaven.

Stop for a moment and consider what he is saying here. Jesus in our lives in a real way makes us transformed human beings so if we are transformed we will bring a positive difference in the lives of other people.

Salt is intended to nourish: it is an article of food. The Godly must nourish the earth spirituality. Salt is intended to preserve. Salt also has a consuming power. There is something sharp, biting, and aggressive in it. When people see you they will notice something different about you then with other people. As sakt we add flavour and taste into mundane life.

As light we are to light up the world of darkness and bring hope and answers where there is no solutions to their problems.

There is no doubt we are living in dark times. Be if we are that light in a dark place the truth will come.

Sometimes I feel a dark cloud is hanging over our nation. I think about the verse of Matthew 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of shadow of death a light has dawned.

John 9:5 Jesus says While I am in the world. I am the light of the world. I feel the same should be for us.

Remember that light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can’t overcome it.

This world needs us to walk in light and show others especially in our world today.

I heard a quote the other day that really spoke to me.

A wise man once told me. The most important thing every person should know is what he is willing to die for.

Anonymous

It got me to thinking, do I really know what I would die for. Would I die for the evil lies that satan is telling everyone? Would I die for believing all the evil that is being spewed out of people’s mouths? I know I don’t want to die in Deceit and fear. I will die for the truth and the salt and light for the world. I would rather die for something good and right than the evil schemes that are trying to control the world.

What It’s Like To Be Trapped Inside Your Own Head

One of the biggest issues I’ve faced, now more than before, is keeping myself in touch with the reality outside of me. I feel like this is common in the world today.

With all the technology and ever-growing drive, the generation has, we spend most of our lives thinking and doing. We no longer take the time to consume the work around us.

Everyone experiences this from time to time, but there are those of us who spend more time inside our heads than the average person. We tend to be alone in our heads, than experience the world. In the past I lived inside my head, when I finally chose to experience outside it. I actually felt I had just woke up from a coma. I felt life my head was a prison that tormented me. I was almost shocked by the things going on around me.

Living in a quick-paced world and maintaining a healthy mindset can prove to be very difficult.

Sometimes, we feel like we’re trapped in our own minds, without any idea of how to navigate our way out. I’ll be honest: it can be scary at times.

It’s not that you don’t see or understand the days flying by, it’s that all-time passed before realizing just how much time has pasted is greater for you that it is for most people. When you’re trapped in your head it can be difficult to get yourself to notice the passing of time.

There is a song that’s called ’Don’t Blink’ It says Don’t blink- Just like that you’re six years old and you take a nap and you wake up and you’re twenty-five and your high school sweetheart has became your wife.

This was so true for me. I won’t up and realized the things I’ve done in my life and how much time had gone by, my dreams for a college degree were wasted away.

You’re not just sitting in place and thinking, you’re going about your day, your work, your social life, all the while remaining in your own head.

This, of course, can be dangerous as being on such a constant rotation inevitably wears us out.

Most people don’t understand that our minds, like all other facets of our lives need to be kept tidy.

If we don’t slow down our minds and clear out those thoughts hiding behind the surface, not only will the days pass without us noticing, but we will also feel the effects of the struggle.

You can’t be inside your mind all day without fine- tuning your thought process.

Your mind is a complex filing system. We file thoughts, memories, feelings, and everything else that makes us human, then find ways to link them all together.

Like all things, thinking takes practice. If you want to improve your intelligence, you need to exercise your mind. Likewise, if you don’t use your mind, you lose it. Those who don’t make a point to exercise their minds often end up suffering from disorders life Alzheimers.

Thinking can get you into trouble as it can do you good. Just because you think a lot doesn’t mean you think rationally. Mix that in with a box full of emotions, and you can be incred dangerous to yourself and those around you.

You most likely have a very good understanding of the person you are.

How could you not when you spend most of your life rummaging through the cupboards of your mind.

To be fair, no amount of analysis with experience will do you any good. You need to experience life and all it’s up and downs it offers to understand yourself and your place in the world.

Our lives aren’t all sunshine and rainbows; we still live in a world where human cruelty appalled you, but you’re genuinely happy with who you are, where your heading in life, and how you’re spending your precious time.

Everyone is different.

At times life throws you a curveball, you can get emotional.

This is usually what gets those trapped in our own heads, into trouble. Having time to think and explore your mind is an incredible thing, but only if you stay positive.

When you allow negative emotions to get the better of you, you’re likely headed down a dark path.

Is your destiny calling you?

Life is beautiful, isn’t it? Do you realize that life is given to us the moment we were born? I remember times that I’ve lived life just as it comes to me, one day at a time. I dreamed of bigger things, my desire to create awesome things, and they were also real to me. This, of course, was a time when I was too broken and didn’t have any idea what I would have in the future. I knew what life was supposed to be and only dreamed about it.

But, then things started happening to me I didn’t expect. I was healing from the horrible things that hurt me. While there were bad things along with the good. My parents died, two of my brothers died, one I will never see again, and my sister and I never talked. I was standing in the middle of my life not knowing where to go or what to do.

I married my soulmate and we had two beautiful children our family was close, but things took a turn for the worse. My husband became distant and I felt like love was no longer there. I struggled through the time raising our children I knew I could not give up. I wanted to be the best parent I could be.

At that time I didn’t realize I had a heart for God and wanted to serve him with passion and purpose. All I knew I needed my life to be better than it was then. What about you?

Your destiny is calling for you, are you able to hear it? Many people have drawn back from what they think God is calling them to do, because at some point in their lives, they responded to it, and things didn’t work out as they hoped. I know I have jumped out to what I thought the Lord was drawing me to do and ran straight into a wall.

If that’s even happened to you, don’t let it worry you. You’re in good company. Some of the greatest faith heroes in the Bible didn’t respond to God’s call exactly like He wanted them to at first.

Do you remember Moses! He was called to be a prophet and to serve as a deliverer for Isreal. He sensed that call in his heart and wanted to get after it with everything in him and ended up murdering an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. That, of course, was not what God wanted him to do. Moses had to be straightened out in the wilderness. God helped him and everything worked out like God had it and Moses fulfilled his destiny after all.

There are many other stories like this in the Bible. Have you ever heard this too will pass? We make many mistakes during our lifetime. But it all passes away if we pray and ask God for repentance, the Words of God tell us that we will be forgiven and washed white as snow to start a new.

I read somewhere that the Lord works with us almost like an artist who is painting a picture. He begins by sketching a few broad strokes on the canvas of our hearts. Initially, we might now even know what those strokes mean. But every time we get back to him, He has painted within us the most beautiful picture we have ever seen.

I would have never guessed back then, I would be working for him to Bring lost hurting souls with drug addictions back to him. I would have never believed I would be in the ministry of praying with veterans of warm to their heart, with the words of God. I would have never believed I would be writing in a blog and starting my first book. All of this is my destiny. God has been a miracle worker in my life. He can be yours too.

Finding Peace In Today’s World

Finding inner peace in the modern world is a challenge.

Everything about modern society feels like an obstacle to experience peace of mind,

But there are some ways to find and peace.

If you work a full-time job five to six days a week, you need to find a balance to keep your sanity especially if you have a family at home.

Always remember inner peace is a choice and many of your habits can determine how much peace you have in your daily life.

Balance and Peace is not only a thing you must achieve but it should become a lifestyle.

I will share with you some ideas to develop inner peace on a deeper level:

Focus your attention on the things you can control.

Why worry about those things you cannot control? Worrying won’t change the outcome. It only takes you peace away and makes you less capable to change the things you can change.

Ask yourself – Is this something I can control? Will worrying help in any way?

As human beings, we have to know which things are within our control. Anything beyond that can distract you and add stress to your life.

Spend some time in nature

The original people didn’t have a 3 bedroom house and have pizza delivered to them at 9:00 at night.

There is something very peaceful about spending time around the birds and the trees or mountains.

Be true to yourself b

Few things are more disconnecting that living the life you weren’t meant to live.

It continually gnaws away at you. It’s peace when you live a life that follows your values. It’s too easy these days to allow society to dictate your choices.

You don’t have to spend your life on a career that impressive to others. You don’t have to chase after a dream that goes against your value system because it will make you popular in the worlds eyes.

Make your own decisions about what’s important to you.

Mind what you eat

You might not realize how bad you feel because you’re used it eating.

I know when I eat too much chocolate i feel horrible the next day. I have no energy I’m sluggish and usually have a headache. Somethings you eat can give you negative feelings for up to three days after.

Try eating the way you know you should for a week, and note the change in how you feel. Some foods improve your memory so do a little research. When you eat good healthy foods you won’t feel like you’ve been run over by a truck. Say no to junk food and soda.

Exercise on a regular basis

Have you ever notices how good you feel as your walking out of a gym, or even walking every day. I know most gyms are closed, but try doing a workout from a DVD or off of u-tube. Exercise is not only good for your body but also your brain.

Do good deeds

This is a good way to take your focus off yourself and on something or someone else,

When you do good deeds, you become aware that others are struggling too.

When you are kind, you receive kindness in return. You will feel a sense of satisfaction when you help someone else.

Do unto others are you would have done unto them.

Here’s a big one, that’s a hard habit to break, at least it was for me.

Be assertive

Be open and forward with your needs and desires. You’re not only more likely to get what you want, but you’ll also feel more in control of your life.

Being passive equals having less control which runs counter to having peace. Be bold without being aggressive.

Don’t let others stand in your way, take full charge of your life. You are in control.

Meditate

Meditation is calming. It helps you see life and it’s challenges more accurately.

Listen to calming music, read a book or just be still for a couple minutes. I read my Bible and think about what the verses are trying to teach me. Some get mediation cds or a phone app.

Things are often better than they seem. Meditation can prevent your mind from making a situation seem worse that it is.

If it seems what you are doing is stressing you out for hours after you do it. Stop and meditate for a few minutes and you will see the difference it will do.

Avoid trying to change others

You already have stress in your life. Then trying to change someone just adds more stress.

I tried to change my husband for about 10 or so years. He didn’t change and I was miserable. Don’t ever think I can be with someone because I can change them, realize they are who they are, and be okay with that.

It’s hard enough to change yourself. How will you ever manage to change someone else.

November 6th- I am thankful, I have fuzzy socks and warm jammies, and a day of peace and quiet.

Signs You’re A Slave To Your Emotions

Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions.

Our emotions have a big amount of power over our choices and actions. And we either become a master or a slave to them.

When you are a slave to your emotions, they can motivate you to do things the are negative and destructive. Such as feeling angry while in a heated argument then retaliating with insults of aggression.

When you are a master of your emotions, they can motivate you to do things that are positive and constructive. Such as feeling inspired by someone and then using that to fuel something creative like design a room full of pictures, or writing a story about someone and then sharing it with them, or take piano lessons to learn how to play.

One central concept in emotional intelligence is finding a balance between our rational thinking mind-vs- our impulsive and feeling mind. When we learn how to learn how to use both of these then we have mastered our emotions, and not become a slave to them.

Here are some signs that you are becoming a slave to your emotions if you find these apply to you, then it may be time to change the way you approach your emotions.

You React Without Thinking

One of the biggest signs that your a slave to your emotions is to find yourself reacting to situations in your life without thinking.

Mine was my husband had a habit of every time something went wrong. He played the blame game, I would react by yelling at him, I would end up crying and he would end up leaving. Finally I got to where I could just tell him matter a of fact.

That when he wanted to sit down and have a calm talk this matter over I would be willing to do that, but until them I refused to speak of it again.

In psychology, there is a term known as amygdala hijack which refers to the phenomenon when the emotional parts of your brain have completely taken over the thinking part of your brain.

We seem to feel like things are worse that it is. And it reeks havoc on our emotional system. This is when you are so overwhelmed with emotions that your aren’t even capable of being reasonable.

Have you ever seen two people really arguing at the top of their lungs and their arms are flying every which way? And their voices begin to change as if someone else is speaking?

That’s one example of people becoming hijacked by their emotions. It can really bring outthink worst side of you when it happens.

It feels right in the moment, but wrong afterwards

When your caught up in the moment, your instincts may feel right when they are wrong.

It always feels like a good idea at the time to snap back at someone, or insult them, or punch them, but that short high is often followed by a long comedown.

We have all had emotional outbursts, and we tend to regret them soon after. We feel really awful for what we did, and we wish we could take it back. But we can’t.

High levels of regret is often a sign that your emotions are running the show in a certain area of your life. You don’t have good control over then, and you are always acting in ways that you let yourself down.

Your actions hurt yourself as well as others.

When your emotions get the best of you, it can often end up hurting yourself and others.

When people are a slave to your enemy they are rarely pleasant to be around. You’ll never know what your mood they will become engulfed in next, sadness, anger, jealousy, fear and you’ll never quite know how you may react to those emotions while around you.

Our emotional slave ends up acting in ways that spread their negative emotions like a virus. They walk into a room feeling gloomy and upset, and before you know it everyone in the room is feeling the same way.

When someone is a slave to their emotions, even their positive moods can become out of hand and destructive. Sometimes they become so caught up in their joy, spontaneity, and elation that they end up acting in risky and careless ways that scare people or turn them off.

You ruminate at night and can’t sleep

Another sign that you’re a slave to your emotions is if you spend a lot of time at night thinking excessively and not being able to get much sleep.

Staying up all night ruminating is often a byproduct of regret. It could be about how we expressed a particular emotion in a particular situation.

The other side of being to much of a emotional slave is not knowing how to express yourself at all and just suppressing your emotions.

So if you find yourself staying up many nights thinking about how you really need to talk to your boss, co-worker, friend, family, or whoever, it could be a sign you need to learn how to speak your mind more often. ( in a polite and healthy way).

People who are masters of their emotions aren’t in emotionless they know how to talk about their emotions and express them in a constructive way that’s appropriate.

Without healthy expression, you’re going to find yourself dealing with a lot of emotional baggage at the end of the day.

You keep repeating the cycle

Everything describing the above happens to everyone to some degree. No one is perfect and we all have moments when our emotions bring out the worst in us.

Mastering your emotions doesn’t mean you’ll never mess up, but it does mean that you’ll learn from those mistakes and you won’t keep repeating the same cycle over and over again.

When you start making active changes in improving how you respond to your emotions forever, those outbursts tend to become less frequent and less intense.