I waited for you...

I love this picture that depicts patience and a reminder to stand steadfast in our walk with God. The picture says it all. Through all he patiently waits. Are you that kind of patient person?

Sometimes in life we wait for people to take notice of us or of the things we do or don't do. We grumble in traffic, get angry at the cashier at the store, or impatient with our children that they don't learn as quickly as we'd like, or that we constantly have to remind them to pick up toys, do their homework, etc.

Today I attended and helped host a luncheon for volunteers at my church. It was a day of service and attending to the volunteers as they attend to us. It was a day for me about gratitude without expectations.  When we are walking right with God and following what it is He asks of us, all we need to know is that it is the right thing to do. To be of service is what God teaches us. God will bless you for your service, just like the dog sitting through a storm, that may be the very time God will bless you.

Kindness, generosity and a giving, willing spirit is what we should strive for. Kindness always repays kindness, patience always brings about patience in others, and a willing spirit will always be blessed by the soft hand of God. Continue to be of service to others and wait patiently for God's power and love.

If we seek spiritual greatness, we must first become servants.

Servants are like flowers in a garden: they have upon them the dew of heaven, which, being shaken by the wind, they let fall at each other's roots, whereby they are jointly nourished.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 NIV

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Become what you Believe...

Just like the young girl running toward a dream, and leaving her own footprints in the sand, I believe we can all become who we believe.

Once you believe you are amazing you will become amazing! You will start using your gifts to make that difference in others!

One of my favorite Bible stories resides in Matthew 9:27-31. It is the story of the two blind men that seek help from the Lord. They cry out to him asking for mercy and to have their sight restored. "Do you really believe I can do that". they answered YES! He touched their eyes and said "Become what you believe." This of course took GREAT FAITH, the basis of the story is this: They believed before it happened. They had great faith and they put action to their faith. They pursued the Lord, they pursued their dream to see, they pursued their healing! They became what they believed!

This is not magic or something unattainable, the power and faith we have within ourselves is greater than we can imagine. I love the word excellency. Mediocrity in the things of God is unacceptable. Make excellency your standard.

Sometimes things overwhelm us and your dream may seem unattainable. But I say set a goal for yourself. It doesn't have to be anything big, start out small with great faith and see where it takes you. It is the first step towards excellency.  Goals demand a willingness to take risks, to lay our life on the line, again and again.

What do you want to do with your life? Where are you going to be in 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years from now?

All opportunities or desired goals involve risk. There will be no success handed to you on a silver platter.But you'll make your own successes and you can carve out your own victories and trample on your own enemies, and you overcome your own difficulties and you set a standard to live by, a standard of excellency.

Don't forget that excellency demands priorities. Set a realistic goal and take it one step at a time. Remember to continually check your progress. You know why people don't check their progress...because they aren't making any.

Faith will not sustain itself. You must learn to maintain your own faith. You must learn to trust and take baby steps in your progress. Faith will suddenly become a way of life for you, something you can depend on and savor.

Make a difference in someone's life by a word of encouragement, a simple hug, a listening ear, a jester of kindness...and most of all a soft place to fall and rest.  We all need a soft place to fall.

1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Be love today...

Angel on my shoulder...

The is LOVE MY SISTER WEEK. If you have a sister who has made you laugh, wiped your tears, hugged u tight, watched you succeed, saw you fail, cheered you on and kept you strong, remember her this week. Sisters are a promise that we will have a friend forever.

I couldn't think of a better way to honor my sister than talking about her generous heart and spirit. Her name is Debbie.

She is in the business of helping and counseling others. She works in downtown Los Angeles at a school where wealth is not realized.
She has to cope with hungry children, angry parents, and children with emotional problems we can't imagine. Through it all she counsels, guides, and listens with a kindness and grace.

This week was particuarlly difficult as one of their 5th grade teachers, a 39 year old man committed suicide over the weekend.  So Monday started with a flury of questions, crying children, and many unanswered questions? Where to start? Reporters, cameras, and questions that had no answers.  But the children, well they don't wait, they show their emotions right up front. They didn't understand, he was loved by his students and all that knew him. How do we explain that away...We don't. Instead we listen, comfort and attempt to move forward.

This week was also her birthday and the anniversary of our mother's death September 29th. Both of these events occured on the same day. I sent her a gift that day trying to lift her spirits. She thanked me but I knew it was a difficult week all around.

The following day while she was out getting gas she accidentally left her wallet on top of the gas pump...She was a little preoccupied and distracted.  She didn't realize until she got home that her wallet was nowhere to be found. Her thought of course, what else could go wrong?  She tells me she prayed to her angels and asked for her wallet to be found. We both believe in angels and the power they possess.

Indeed she had an angel on her shoulder that day. She was a little fractic trying to call banks, credit card companies...you know all those important things we need to take care of when we think all is lost.
The next morning she received a  call from her car insurance company and they asked her if she had lost her wallet? A little perplexed she asked "How would you know I lost my wallet?" Well the lady said "Someone had picked up your wallet that was left on the gas tank, and the only information in your wallet that could connect them to you was via an insurance card."

The lady was kind enough to give Debbie the information and she learned he worked not far away from her home. She went to the place of business and asked if a man named Daniel worked there? Daniel suddenly appeared and handed Debbie her wallet. My sister was so grateful she tried to give him a thank you gift, he starred straight at her and said, "No thank you, that is what we do."  He really did refuse the gift and only said he was glad to help. Sounds like angel intervention to me!!!

Now if you don't believe in angels, take a closer look at the story. My sister is that way, she feels satisfied to make someone else's day. She is an angel to many, family, friends, and strangers. I am blessed to have such an angel in my life...thank you Debbie for being my sister angel.

Take the time to do a random act of kindness today and you be an angel on someone's shoulder.

Encourage one another daily, as long as it is Today...Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

The End of the Rainbow...

I love to be with my grandsons and share in the wonderment of childhood innocence and dreams.  They can make life seem so simple.

My grandson saw this photo on the computer and asked me "Grandma, can we go to the end of the rainbow and can we get the pot of gold, then we'll be rich and we can go to Africa and see all the animals." I of course concur with his pure belief and let him know that all things are possible. I don't tell him it is too expensive, or we won't have enough money...I encourage him that it will happen and in following my own dream, I will make it happen.

He is secure with that, and I am secure in saying it. It is never too late I tell him to dream big, and believe big. And I talk in our quiet moments of God and share with him in the most simple way to trust God and in time all his hopes and dreams will come to be. He throws his arms around me and says "Love you grandma, yea" he yells "we are going to Africa."

So whatever your dreams are spend a few minutes with a child before they are filled with worldly  thoughts. We can return to our childlike innocence and that is when we grow in wisdom, remain curious, and are still excited about learning something new and fun.

Be childlike in your walk with God and you will be amazed at what comes forth to greet you. If you stop learning and growing what is the purpose of this life? Since we don't have all the answer, attempt to learn some truths about you and those around you.

My grandson makes me laugh, gives me pause for thought, and loves me unconditionally. That is how God wants us to love one another, just watch the children and learn. Sit on the floor and play like you did when you were a child, it really is fun. Whether we play Tic Tac Toe, Jacks, put together a puzzle or color, it sets my mind free and I remain open to all possibilities...that is how we start out in life, sometimes we must return to the mind of a child and all the possibilities it brings.

God is waiting to hear from you. Go ahead give him a call. And watch how your life can and will never be the same.

"I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down..."  Abraham Lincoln

That friend today is my grandson Collin.

Autumn's path...

The cool air is starting to fill our evenings here in Arizona. A soft breeze, lazy colorful clouds hang gently in the sky. Blues, pinks, and purples filled the sky a few evenings ago. Amazing and beautiful in its simplicity.  It is the simple things I take note of more than ever before.

I see myself walking down this autumn colored path to finish that which I have started and now want to finish. I am racing towards my vision of completing my first book "Waiting to Die, Wanting to Live", and hand delivering it to my publisher on Halloween weekend in Las Vegas.  My dream and vision will come to its final resting place.  And the new vision and dream will take over and start anew.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year.  It is the final quarter of the year to take stock of what you have accomplished, what you have left undone, and what lies ahead for the new year.  It is a time to finish that which you have started and be a good steward of your work. Give whatever it is you are doing your best, that is all God asks of us and what we should expect from ourselves.

So I will finish this years goal and ready myself for what lies ahead. If you haven't finished your goal for the year, take a breath, believe in your dreams, complete what you can, and you will become what you believe.

I am diligent, and my desires are fully satisfied. (Prov. 13:4)