What is Love?

Valentine's Day conjures up images and memories for all of us.  But, there is another way to view an outpouring of love on this day, and every day.  As a christian I have asked God to use my life, and my work, to help others.  God wants to love and bless each of us every day and he uses people like you and me to do His work!  He is waiting for you and I to give our lives over to Him so that he can show His love and compassion and draw us to Himself. 

Let's look at 1 John 3:18 (amp), "...Let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth..."  This verse is pretty straight forward and tells us that love is just not about our words or thoughts, it's about our actions.  It's not enough for me to think about someone or to tell them that "...last week I was thinking about you..."  How am I acting on those thoughts to show that person that I care for them? 

What God really charges us with is to reach out and meet the needs of others.  It can range from a smile, a hug, a word of encouragement or hands-on "let me help you now" kinds of actions.  I remember a number of years ago when I was travelling home from a long road trip.  The trip had been long and filled with car troubles and family drama.  I pulled into line at a fast food restaurant and ordered a quick snack and drink.  The line took forever and it was hot and my patience was wearing thin.  Finally the line began to move and as I pulled up to the window to pay for my order the person behind the counter told me that the gentleman in line in front of me had already paid.  She said that he had been watching me and sensed my frustration and justed wanted to do something nice.  Wow!  That simple act of kindness is something I think of often.  When I have the opportunity to do the same for other folks, I get such a kick out of it!

The Bible says that it is God's kindness that leads people to Him.  We have many ways in which we can show the love of God to people we encounter each day. 

On this Valentine's Day, and every day, step out and show others what real love is about.  Give of yourself and show acts of kindness and genuine love and plant a seed of goodness that will produce results in your own life, and in the lives of others.  Let God's love pour through you and bless you and everyone in your life!  That's what true love is!

Michele Webb is a recognized national motivational speaker and certified Cancer Registrar (CTR).  You have permission to use this post as long as you do not alter it in any way and give a link back to the author and this website.  Visit Michele's website at http://www.michelewebb.com/ or at http://www.cancerregistrar.com/ today. 

On Courage and Faith

"Courage is the path on which your work travels.

Fear is just a pothole that you fill with faith."

~ Karon Phillips Goodman

Elevating Life

Do you want a better life? I certainly do. Now, I'm not unhappy with the life that I have and am so blessed in so many ways. But, it could be better and I know that I could be a better person, so that is what I am seeking.

In order to find a better life I know that I have to change my mindset, my behaviors and the focus of my life’s work. To achieve something that is worthwhile I must take responsibility for who I am and then make a conscious choice and effort to become who I want to be. When I am responsible for my thoughts and behaviors and make the shift from the unconscious to the conscious thought I can transform an ordinary and average existence into something that is filled with joy, meaning and purpose.

Now, if you can make the conscious decision to change how you think and focus on what is important in your life in order to fill it to overflowing with joy, meaning and purpose, why would you not do this? Why would you choose, instead, to remain stagnate and ultimately self-destruct? Yet, oddly enough, people make this latter choice every day.

See, it is really about making the choice to put the power and decision making for my life back into my own hands. That means I choose to quit functioning automatically or on auto-pilot relying on the old habits and behaviors that got me to this point in the first place. I choose to simply stop using excuses that hold me back or keep me from being responsible for my life. I choose to re-train my brain and thoughts in order to achieve a better life in order to elevate it to a place that is higher functioning, has true meaning and purpose, and is a happier place to be.

Henry David Thoreau said it best in Walden:

“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable

ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.”

I encourage you to take a bit of time to think about how you can change your unconscious thinking into the conscious and elevate your life to receive joy, meaning and purpose that you so rightly deserve!

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http://www.RegistryMindset.com. Michele Webb, America’s Cancer Registry Coach, is a nationally recognized, certified cancer registrar (CTR). She cares passionately about helping cancer registrars around the world to grow personally and professionally and serves her community as a motivational speaker, author, and educator. You have permission to repost this article as long as you do not alter it in any way, give credit to the author and link back to her website.

Gratitude and Appreciation as a Secret for Success

The best attitude you can possibly aspire to express year-round is one of gratitude and appreciation.

Being truly grateful for what is already present in your life will automatically and effortlessly attract more good into your life.

Make a conscious decision to appreciate and acknowledge all that you have already been blessed with. These emotions are of the highest vibrational frequency, and through the Law of Attraction they will attract even more to be thankful for.

Try to be grateful for even the difficult and challenging situations that arise in your life.

It is often through these situations, that we experience the most profound spiritual and emotional growth. You can learn to view each apparent obstacle as an opportunity to develop a new quality, strength, skill, insight or wisdom and be grateful for the lessons. Each challenge is an opportunity for growth and expansion.

Rise to these occasions, and appreciate all that you are learning in the process. Keeping your attitude positive and appreciative through these times will not only help to avoid attracting more of these difficult situations into your life - it will also create a field of positive energy that will attract more of what you do want.

"Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely

the attitude of gratitude is the most important,

and by far the most life-changing."

- Zig Ziglar

A Token of Gratitude

Try carrying a small token, stone, crystal, or some other meaningful object with you each day in your pocket. Throughout the day, each time you reach into your pocket for your money or keys it will serve as a tangible reminder to stop and think of something you have to be grateful for. This is a great way to increase your awareness of all that you have to be appreciative of.

Take a moment to breathe, and really feel the emotion of gratitude. This simple mindfulness technique helps to raise your vibrational frequency and keep you in a state of constant gratitude.

Your Gratitude Journal

Start keeping a daily Gratitude and Acknowledgement journal. This is a necessary and valuable tool in the development of your growth and awareness. This book is not intended to be a long, drawn out “diary” sort of thing, just a short, simple list of things you are grateful for on that particular day. This is a place to honor and appreciate the good in your life.

Gratitude:

Each evening, before going to bed, take a few minutes to review your day. Think about the day’s events. Become aware of how many good things actually happened on that day, and remember to appreciate even the challenges that you encountered. Select the five things, or people, or events that you are most grateful for. There is no right or wrong here, just whatever, or whoever you are sincerely grateful for on that particular day. It may be the warm sun on your face, a cool breeze, a kind word, a friend, or just feeling good about what you got accomplished that day. It may be the way you handled a particular situation that would have thrown you into a tailspin in the past.

Anything you are grateful for. As you write them in your journal, feel the gratitude and appreciation. Give thanks.

Acknowledgement:

Take a moment to acknowledge the changes that are occurring for you personally. Write them down. Acknowledge just how well the Law of Attraction is working in your life. Write down any specific event where the Law of Attraction was at work- the parking space you envisioned, the meeting you wanted to schedule, the bonus check you received, the grade you wanted, the person who said yes when you asked them out.

Miracles can and do occur on a daily basis. They are happening all around you. Honor them, and notice them. Through acknowledgement, you will become more and more aware of the amazing synchronicity that is already at work in your life.

Make the time you spend in contemplation and writing in your Gratitude and Acknowledgement journal a sacred part of your daily routine.

Your continued expressions of joy and gratitude will draw even greater joy, love and abundance into your life.

You will begin to notice a change in your perception of each day‘s events. You will become more aware of the positive things that happen all around you every single day. Your focus will shift, your energy will shift, and you will begin to appreciate how blessed you already are. And … the Law of Attraction will respond to the higher vibration you are creating.

Enjoy the journey.

Live each day in joy and gratitude.

Jack Canfield

© 2010 The Canfield Training Group.  All Rights Reserved.

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Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

The Activity of Faith

Recently I read a short post describing faith as an activity of the heart, or a connection we have and make in our life. Sharon Salzberg, a meditation teacher in Massachusetts describes faith as an activity of the heart.  By reaching for connections instead of staying isolated and recognizing that everything is changing all of the time we can apply our faith as a daily activity rather than just a concept or belief. 

She says that "...the essence of faith is connection."  We all recognize that our lives are very complex and difficult today and faith is an activity that ignites our capacity to expand our relationships, to love, forgive and to heal from all those hurts, bumps and scrapes we experience every day.  It is also an activity that connects us to a higher source that feeds our mind and soul with value and purpose that drives us to want to be better human beings. 

By practicing faith as an activity, rather than just something I believe in, I can replenish my thoughts, bring value and purpose to my life, and have the energy to carry forward every day. 

Make More Time for Yourself

There's only 24 hours in any given day and so the thought that you could "make more time" does seem a bit ridiculous.  But, I have run across a few tips from life coaches that actually worked.  Here's what I discovered:

• Handle things once.  I've heard this for many years, but it really works.  If you're sorting through your mail, immediately through out the junk mail, catalogs or circulars that could clutter things up.  I also throw away those tempting catalogs, not only were they a temptation for my money but I found I spent a lot of time "just looking." 
• Don't listen to the news first thing in the morning.  This tip surprised me.  I used to listen to the news while I got ready for work each morning and thought nothing of it.  I had already eliminated listening to the news just before bedtime so that it didn't interrupt my sleep.  But, when I stopped my morning listening I was surprised at how much fresher and how much more upbeat my outlook on my day was than before.  Now I take 5-10 minutes mid-morning and mid-afternoon to look at the news highlights online and then sign off.  Try it, you may be surprised too!
• Make good use of waiting time.  Tuck a book in your purse or in your car.  Take a notepad to write your shopping list or notecards to write thank you or appreciation notes.  Some people pay bills but that may be a bit too public for most.  Whatever you do, if you are spending your waiting time in a public area, please do not use it to talk on your cell phone in public as that is annoying.  A little quiet time does wonders!
• Be decisive and move on.  Have you ever been with a group of friends who couldn't make up their minds as to which restaurant to visit?  Or, have you been shopping with a friend who took hours to decide between the blue shirt or the red one.  Be decisive, make a decision and move on.
• Turn off technology during your high-energy time.  OK, this one took me a bit longer to embrace.  For years I have had a small TV on at my desk while I worked.  After trying this tip a couple of times I realized how much more productive I am when I turn the TV, radio and iPOD off for a couple of hours each day. 
• Monitor time-sapping addictions.  If you suffer from chronic Internet surfing'itis like me, you understand this tip.  Whatever your addiction, whether it is reading useless catalogs, Internet surfing, watching TV, or your own unique habit, monitor your time.  It's OK to indulge, just make a commitment to do this activity for 15 minutes, 20 minutes and so forth and then move on to something more productive. 

These tips alone, according to Kathryn Matthews in O Magazine, could save you up to 4.5 hours each day in time!  Try some of these and you may be surprised at how easy they are to implement and how much more relaxed and less stressful your day can be.

(Tips from "How to Get 7 More Hours into Your Day," by Kathryn Matthews, O, The Oprah Magazine, May 1, 2007.)

Life x2

Have you noticed that life seems to be whipping past us at warp speed?  In all the hurry of our everyday lives it is important to remember to enjoy it.  You have probably heard this before, right?  But, have you actually practiced it?  Every day that you spend worrying about trivial things is a day you subtract from the time you could be using to do something meaningful or something that adds value to your life. 

Last week I was looking at an old high school annual.  You probably have one similar to mine where everyone writes, "...never change..."  "..stay just like you are..." and so forth.  In reality, that is exactly what you should be doing.  Living life x2, or to its fullest extent with value and meaning, means that you will reinvent yourself each and every day.  I don't know who, but someone once said that "stagnation is suicide." 

Look around each day and find something you can do to add value and meaning to your life and the lives of others.  Reinvention does not have to be complicated.  Look for the simple, heart felt things you can do or say.  Live life x2!

It's OK To Ask For Help

Sometimes our biggest goals in life can seem so overwhelming.  You may find it difficult to take this goal and break it down into a series of small, realistic and achievable tasks. But this is exactly how big goals and dreams are achieved!  

 

From time to time you may have a goal that requires you learn something new, or you may encounter a new problem or challenge that you are not ready to handle. In these situations it is OK to ask for help. Remember, it is OK to not know how to do something!

 

So, ask for guidance and advice from someone who does know. Get comfortable asking, "Can you tell me how to go about this..." and "What would I have to do to ...?" or "How did you...?"

 

If the first answer or two don't seem right, keep researching and asking until you can create a realistic action plan that helps you reach your goal. Don't stop searching until you are sure you have the right answers and right information in hand to begin you quest.

 

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you get started:

• What do you need to do?
• What new skills do you need to learn?
• What resources do you need?
• Who do you need to help and support you in reaching your goal?
• Who do you need to ask for assistance?
• What new habits do you need to build into your life to reach your goal?

After you have decided what you really want and have specific deadlines and goals in mind, the next step will be to determine all the individual action steps you need to accomplish your goal. Asking for help to do this will take you closer to success and to accomplishing your dreams if you can ask for help from someone.

Why Are You Waiting?

As we go about our daily lives God puts different situations in front of us to not only test our faith and give us opportunities to grow.  Author Karen Phillips Goodman states this wonderfully in her book, You're Late Again, Lord!  The concept is that as we sit in whatever room we find ourselves in today, we will not advance to the next room until we have learned the lessons here first.  To do this requires a constant walk with God and absolute trust and faith that He will be with you every step of the way and that He will not put you in a situation in which you will fail.  He is interested in our success and well-being.  But you know, like I do, that growth and success only comes from some sort of experience, some are even painful.  While I am not an expert in learning my lessons, I have begun to ask myself these questions to help me understand God's plan, or lesson, for today.  Perhaps you will find these helpful as well:

• What do you think you are waiting for today?
• What does God need you to discover (or rediscover) about your relationship with Him today?
• And, instead of focusing on how to "fix" others, how will you focus on your inner self and ask God for guidance to see what He wants you to learn today?

You may find yourself sitting in some waiting rooms for an extended period of time as not all lessons are easily learned.  However, when that doorway to the next room opens up your heart and mind also open and expand and God's plan for your life will be evident. 

Linear to Circular

Have you noticed how challenging it is in our busy lives today to have meaningful relationships? In our excessively busy, high-tech, world we tend to run "linear relationships" instead of building a circular and supportive communities that support and promote success.

Author Randy Frazee describes a linear relationship as "..running from one relational unit to another. As you exit one world and enter another, there may be some mention of the people you just left behind, but essentially they are not connected to the present world in any meaningful way." (Making Room for Life, pg 47). Sound familiar?

Linear relationships are not conducive to really getting to know people, to building solid and supportive relationships and to find true meaning to life. We just bounce from encounter to another without really giving of ourselves or sharing with others whom we really are or what we want to be. For some it is a "safe" way to get through the day without having to give of yourself or be your authentic self. But have you really thought about what you actually get from these relationships? Are they really helping you to grow, be successful in life or to reach your goals?

To get the most out of life consider building circular relationships instead of linear by:

1. Eliminating unnecessary and negative relationships. Simplify your life by removing the links or worlds that make your life stressful or hard to integrate into your long-term goals and plans.


2. Drawing and combining circles. Invite folks from one circle of your life to participate in another. Combine those with like interests. For example: if you like a particular hobby or activity and so do others you know, begin participating together as a group. Keep it simple and low-key and you may be surprised at how meaningful this can become for everyone.


3. Creating a hangout. The hit TV show "Friends" explored the value of a hangout and a "safe" place to share your life with others. Again, keep it simple but consider making your front porch, garage, cafeteria at work, a local park or beach, some centralized location become a favorite hangout.

By creating circles with your relationships you will find that many of your friends and family have common interests. When we do something together, even if it is as simple as sitting on our front porches sipping a glass of iced tea, we begin to build and grow our relationships in a helpful and supportive way. Darting in / out of a conversation does not help us grow.

You may be wondering how you can do this at work? With a little thought and effort you can. Don't forget to be mindful of how much time you spend on these activities take and always be respectful of your organization's values and mission. Here are some ideas:

1. Coffee Cart. Designate 15 minutes one day a week to grab a coffee and chat. You can quickly go around the group to see who needs some extra support or help. Focus on positive solutions rather than just the typical negative or destructive 'water cooler' chit chat.


2. Exercise Breaks. Setup a group schedule and 'buddy system' to take your break to walk around the block or up/down stairs. Consider having everyone wear pedometers and start logging their daily steps or activities as a group.


3. Girls / Guys Nights Out. Schedule a monthly or quarterly Girls or Guys Night Out after work. Pick a centralized location that is easy for all to get to. Going out to a local restaurant to share a meal is great but you may also want to consider meeting a local park, coffee shop or community center. Select a topic for discussion and establish some simple ground rules making the activity a "safe" zone where negative and destructive behaviors are not allowed. You may even want to agree, as a group, to not talking about work in these settings but focus on other topics and getting to know one another outside the workplace.

Regardless of what you choose to do in regard to an activity, take some time to evaluate your linear relationships. Identify one or two people in which you can start building your circular relationship and take action. Develop some meaningful and positive relationships that will help you to grow personally, professionally and spiritually. You will be amazed at how this enriches your life!

To learn more about Randy Frazee and his book, click here.

Attitude is a Choice

Our attitudes, and how we choose (or not) to deal with life is a topic of interest to me. There is so much information available to us today to help us shape our thoughts and behaviors and yet, I keep running across this quote from Charles Swindoll. I'd like to share this with you:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude ... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our attitudes."

Choose To Be Happy

My sister-in-law Beate gave me a great calendar for Christmas this year and I want to share with you the fantastic thoughts for the month of January.

"Choose to be well in every way. Choose to be happy no matter what. Decide that each day will be good just because you're alive.

You have power over your thoughts and feelings. Don't let your circumstances dictate how you feel. Don't let your thoughts and feelings color your situation blue or desperate.

Even if you don't have everything you want, even if you're in pain or in need, you can choose to be joyful no matter what you're experiencing. You are more than your body, your physical presence, and your material possessions. You are spirit. You have your mind, heart, and soul, and there is always something to be thankful for.

Decide that life is good and you are special. Decide to enjoy today. Decide that you will live life to the fullest now, no matter what. Trust that you will change what needs changing, but also decide that you're not going to put off enjoying life just because you don't have everything you want now. Steadfastly refuse to let anything steal your joy. Choose to be happy...and you will be!"

~ Donna Fargo

Cultivating Possibilities

I recently came across a quote that I absolutely love, so I'd like to share it with you.

"The richest soil, if uncultivated, produces the rankest weeds."

The Greek philosopher Plutarch said this and it "talked" to me. What an incredibly powerful statement. There is no amount of skill, knowledge, potential, money or connections that can help you succeed if you don't want to be successful.

Next time you're in the bookstore, look at all the titles on achieving success, goal-setting and positive thinking. Almost any book on achieving success is going to talk about having that desire and motivation to get you started.

Now, motivation by itself is good, but maybe not enough. You need to have a vision, a goal and the motivation to start becoming successful. Here's another quote I found from Jean la Fontaine, a French essayist that sums this all up:

"Man is made so that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish."

Here's to your success and to breaking away from negative thinking and to reaching your very best!


Copyright Michele A. Webb, 2008. All Rights Reserved.

If You Had 30 Days to Live ..

Just after Easter the Saddleback Church started a church-wide study from the book, One Month to Live, written by Kerry and Chris Shook. This is an incredibly powerful study and will definitely have you thinking about how you live and think because nothing will get you to refocus your priorities then learning you only have 30 days left!

If you are looking for some answers and want to know how to super-charge how you live each and every day NOW, I highly suggest getting this book, the study guide and the DVD.

You can also visit the Saddleback Church website and view / listen to the messages for last week and the coming three weeks about the material. On the 4th week the authors of the book will be with us to wrap things up.

Really - this is phenomenal! I dare ya to buy the book and change your life!

Way Markers

My Pops had a habit of taking a road or hiking trail just "to see where it goes." He was never too worried about whether or not there were signs, maps, trail markers or directionals. He was gifted with a sense of direction that almost always got us to where we needed to go, albeit there were some interesting turns and twists along the way! There are quite a number of family stories that can be told as a result of these little jaunts and adventures and my brothers and I often laugh with remembering! His spirit of adventure and need to explore is a gift that he handed down to each of us.

Our lives are filled with way markers put into place by the different things we experience, people we encounter, family, mentors and friends. Our enemies, too, can put a way marker in front of us. It is how we choose to read these signs, and learn from them, that determines the directions our lives will take. We may choose a detour that helps us to learn a valuable or important lesson, or, we may choose to take a scenic route that takes us a bit longer to get to our destination, but restores our soul or enriches our lives with beauty.

If we choose to let God lead in our lives we will be able to navigate around and through all that comes before us. John 14:6 tell us, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life.." Invite God into your life each day. Study His Word and ask for His help to read the way markers. He will guide you on a journey "of a lifetime" that is guaranteed to be one of the most exciting road trips you will ever experience!

Just as my father's meandering about the countryside enabled us to learn and experience new sights, so will God's word be your map and travel guide. Be an adventurer, be willing to "see where it goes" with Him leading the way!

Source: http://MAWebb.blogspot.com

Copyright M. A. Webb, 2004-2006. All Rights Reserved

PUBLISHING AND REPRINT RIGHTS: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Please forward a courtesy email to the author including an active web link where it is posted.

Patience is a Virtue

Last week I travelled to the West Coast for my nephew's high school graduation. The weekend was wonderful, Kevin graduated with honors and our family had opportunity to spend some time together. On the return trip home, even though I enjoyed my time away, I discovered that like most of my fellow travellers, I was eager to get to my destination and home.

The first leg of the journey went very well. The airline left on time and we arrived in Chicago early. Wow! I was feeling pretty good and had a nice break on the ground before boarding the plane for the last leg of the journey into the Cincinnati International Airport. Not too long after the plane was fully loaded, the captain came onto the loudspeaker. Immediately we all knew that something wasn't quite right and that we probably were not going to like his message. Sure enough, he explained that the front tires of the airplane were worn and that we would have to wait to have them changed. And, unfortunately, the "NASCAR pit crew was not available..." so it was expected to take them 45-60 minutes from that moment to get the job done.

Well, not wanting to take off with bald tires on the front of the aircraft was understandable. Understanding why it would take so long is not so easy to comprehend, but we all settled in for a long wait.

Then, after a full hour had passed the captain comes back on the loudspeaker. Well, it was going to take us at least another 15-20 minutes to get the job done and then we could taxi out for take-off. Finally, we taxi out and then, we wait another 15-20 minutes. Our 1 hour layover ended up being about 3 hours in length and by the time we took off it was after 11:30 pm EST. We were all exhausted and cranky and the children on board were beginning to display behaviors more akin to little devils!

As I was sitting in my seat feeling sorry for myself, getting anxious and moving about restlessly my seat mate turned to me and asked if I lived in the Cincinnati area and proceeded to ask directions to one of the local hospitals. She went on to explain that she had been travelling since about 6:30 am that morning to be with her parents. Her father had suffered a major stroke earlier that morning and was not expected to live. In fact, they were not sure he would live long enough for her to see him alive again. Clearly the delay had been incredibly stressful for her and her husband!

It was at this point in time that I realized that patience really is a virtue, and something that I am not blessed with! I felt incredibly sorry for, and could empathize with this woman and her family. And, finally, after our arrival and during the journey home I was able to thank God for having blessed me for this seat mate. You see, I need to develop more patience and I had lost sight of what that meant, until that night. I was a bit embarrassed that I had been impatient, frustrated with the airline and stressed about the delay in time. Clearly any inconvenience to me could not compare to this person's anxiety.

This morning I prayed to God for this woman and her family, particularly regarding the health of her father and asked that God's will be done. Whatever the outcome I pray for peace and acceptance on their parts. Then, I thanked God for delivering yet another lesson and asked for his continued "fine-tuning" of my behavior and personality deficits. Isn't it amazing how God sends us these little reminders, when we need them the most, of his amazing power!

Source: http://mawebb.blogspot.com

Copyright M. A. Webb, 2004-2006. All Rights Reserved

PUBLISHING AND REPRINT RIGHTS: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Please forward a courtesy email to the author including an active web link where it is posted.

Blessed Are the Birds

This morning I was up just as the sun was starting to rise. I absolutely love this time of day. The red-orange streaks of light coming from the East were beautiful. As I stood in my backyard I was treated to a chorus from the many birds that live in the trees surrounding my house. The warblers, finches, cardinals, morning doves, blue jays and even the woodpecker treated to me a symphony of their own making. Standing there with the sunrise in the sky, the dew in the grass and listening to the birds was one of those moments that help balance a busy work day or soothe my own rough edges. Some might call it "a good thing" or even a "perfect moment." Whatever you call it, it was good!

There's a wonderful verse in the Bible, Psalm 84:3 that says, “Birds find nooks and crannies in your house, sparrows and swallows make nests there. They lay their eggs and raise their young, singing their songs in the place where we worship. God of the Angel Armies! King! God! How blessed they are to live and sing there!”

David was so right when he made this observation and, today, I was blessed by the beautiful music made by the birds who live in my yard. Sometimes I get so busy and so caught up in the mundane parts of my life that I forget the simple blessings that God has given me. Little reminders, even if it comes from a tiny little finch who is singing its heart out, are everywhere and give us an opportunity to worshop God and all the blessings and opportunities He has given us.

My hope for you today is that you hear a bird sing and are reminded of God's goodness. When you do, stop and take a few moments to thank Him for our feathered friends and their wonderful songs of praise.

That reminds me ... I've got to go fill the bird feeders! See ya!

Source: http://mawebb.blogspot.com

Copyright M. A. Webb, 2004-2006. All Rights Reserved

PUBLISHING AND REPRINT RIGHTS: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Please forward a courtesy email to the author including an active web link where it is posted.

Out of Adversity Comes ....

In October, 2005 I moved across the country. There were a number of "good" reasons for doing so, but at the time of the move I was confident that after I arrived in my new home that I would find a great job, meet lots of new friends and just "love" the change. I should have known better, but it did not turn out quite like I had envisioned.

The good news is that it has not been all bad either, thankfully! But, the great new job, lots of new friends and everything turning out perfect in a rosy-colored world didn't materialize. Today I still believe that the move was blessed by God and that, for some reason still not yet known to me, I was supposed to come here. If adversity, challenges, trials and difficulties are supposed to make us better individuals and children of God, then I have been in the boot camp for those in distress!

David, who certainly had his fair share of distress, said in Psalm 4:1, "God you have enlarged me in my time of distress." Here is what I am learning from David:

• God never "wastes" a trial or challenge on us. He uses this to help us to grow and build our faith.
  
• Just as with any sport or physical challenge, resistance builds strength. To grow and make the best of a difficult time we must resist the devil and all his sneaky ways to make us stumble or fail.
  
• God's Word, the Bible, is our map and guidebook. We need to read and use His Word to help us to understand our situation and to help us build our faith and trust in God's plan for us.
  
• Develop a good attitude filled with positive thoughts and gratefulness for the blessings that we do have AND for being entrusted with the challenges before you. We should pray and sing God's praises for the blessings in our lives.
  
• Trust that God is on your side and that He has every intention of giving us a life that is filled with happiness, success and good things!
  

I hope that as you go throughout your day that you will take time out to thank God for His goodness and blessings and to not forget that He is helping you to grow by giving you challenges and life experiences that require us to exercise our minds and attitudes.

Source: http://MAWebb.blogspot.com

Copyright M. A. Webb, 2004-2006. All Rights Reserved

PUBLISHING AND REPRINT RIGHTS: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Please forward a courtesy email to the author including an active web link where it is posted.

Inspiration

A couple of weeks ago I was channel surfing on TV, looking for ANY program that had some sort of value. I happened across a public television channel when I saw Dr. Wayne Dyer. His new book and lecture series is all about finding inspiration in your life. He shares with his readers and audience people who have inspired him, and his introduction of Immaculee Ilibagiza was so thought-provoking that I went out and bought her book. NEVER have I read a book that has been as thought-provoking and inspirational as this one!

The author, Immaculée, shares her story of how she survived during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 when she and seven other women were crowded together, in silence, in a tiny little bathroom of a local pastor's home for 91 days! Her story is not only captivating, but it also discusses the awesome power of prayer, building a lasting relationship with God and an incredible sense of forgiveness and unconditional love and understanding. Immaculée's ability to forgive those who so cruelly slaughtered her family, friends and neighbors is truly remarkable and certainly God-given!

If you have not yet read this book, you must get it! I found my copy at my local bookstore in the biography section. Please share your thoughts and comments about it too, by adding a comment to this post for others to read. Feel free to share personal thoughts, how the book or author inspired you, how reading it has helped others, etc. Books like this one should never sit on a shelf to collect dust. I hope to hear from you soon!

Title: Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

Author: Immaculée Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin

Publisher: Hay House, Inc., Carlsbad, California

Year Published: 2006

Website: http://LeftToTell.com

Source: http://MAWebb.blogspot.com

Copyright M. A. Webb, 2004-2006. All Rights Reserved

PUBLISHING AND REPRINT RIGHTS: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author's information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Please forward a courtesy email to the author including an active web link where it is posted.

How Wonderful It Is ...

"How wonderful it is
that nobody need wait
a single minute before
starting to improve the world."

-- Anne Frank