Today we are given life to enjoy Wherever we go, let’s take a moment to see the beauty that surrounds us.

LIGHT BRINGS LIGHT

Even a little candle can bring light to a matter. At times we all need more light shed on a subject before making an informed decision or a good choice. Are we willing to slow down and take a closer look at the whole picture before jumping to conclusions, or getting in over our head?

When a room is well lit, we will find it is less likely we will stumble over the furniture. In addition, when our minds are enlightened, we are less likely to fall into dangerous traps or step on obvious mind fields.

In this day and age people are instructed to get prepared for emergencies. It is vitally important to have available anything that will light up the darkness. May it be the darkness of the night, or darkness of the mind and soul, Light will always bring Light. This is an area we need to be stocked up on at all times. Perhaps now a good time to check your own light supply.

Being Content In Whatever State We’re In

Staying in a less than five star hotel, a place with minimum amount of furniture is a great way to be humbled, as well as reminded of the many gifts we have. There was one who was willing to share what she had, a gracious and beautiful young woman from a different country whose culture does not use beds.

I am grateful to have a place out of the elements and dangers of society, safely resting for the night behind a locked door as night approaches. All the meanwhile, I was learning how to be content in whatever state I am in.

Beauty in life shows up in even the most simple things. A soft pillow, a comforting blanket, a bonus could  include a gift of a light, with the ability to read; these are all things we should never take for granted. There is much to be thankful for. Yet how many times do we expect to have the comforts of life exactly the way we desire?  What happens if things get changed drastically?

As I realize life is not fair, I see many business that were lost to fire. We all could lose everything in a twinkling of an eye. What is it that keeps us motivated in times of uncertainty? Love and patience works wonders. For truly we didn’t bring anything into this world, nor will we take anything out.

What we need to do while we can experience life is to love and let others know they are cherished as well. Sharing a five star hotel, or a pile of blankets on the floor to provide padding, is a great way to practice being patience and kind

What do you see? A glass table, with an awesome eagle underneath, wings spread to bear the weight of the Word, time and beauty.

A gift of flowers representing love, a Word of Knowledge to assist those who are desiring Wisdom, and the hour glass structuring the passing of time, all combined for those pursuing life more abundantly.

As we tap into the life forces available to those who desire truth, let us walk with integrity. We may enjoy the abundant life provided for us just for the asking. Seek and you shall find is one part of the process to help others. With growth in knowledge, we know what we needed to .

We truly need each other to share wisdom, knowledge and understanding. May we be willing to be open and share the goodness of the one greater other than ourselves who reads our hearts and direct our steps.

Lost In Deep Thought Of The Vastness Of Life’s Turmoils

Whatever you resist persists, there is the rub. As long as you engage in an inner war between what you crave and what you know is good for you, defeat is all but inevitable. In its natural state, will is the opposite of resistance.                                                                                                                          Deepak Chopra

What does that mean? Sometimes it is easier to recognize someone else who is struggling while attempting to resist some type of forbidden fruit than it is to see our own struggles. No one knows what is in the heart of man, nor could they know the topic of one’s inner war unless they chose to verbalize it. Even then, the degree to which the war is waged is a very private experience that cannot be shared with even the closest loved one.

We all could do well to learn the lesson of staying in our own area of control. For truly we can not control anyone else, in fact at times we can barely control ourselves. The only areas we can control is what we think, what we say, and what we do. For believers, they have been given a gift of self-control to use as they please.

How many times do we think if we just resist something it will go away? If the saying is true, whatever we resist will persist, shall we just submit to our internal cravings? It appears that the meaning of will is opposite of resistance. Therefore using the power of the will while addressing our inner war of good and bad becomes questionable. Is it possible to just use will power?

This is a deep thought to be contemplated. Do we actually know where we contemplate anything? Not to complicate matters even more, once we contemplate, how do we comprehend what we contemplated and then communicate it in a way that can be spoken? We are very complex beings that must use our minds and will to not only survive but thrive in the world we live in.

There are many books, quotes, and scriptures that refer to the mind. “Let this mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus” ..” Keep you mind on Him and He will keep your heart and mind in perfect peace.” When our heart is in perfect peace, the inner war will cease as continue to keep our mind on Him.

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” I find it interesting that this scripture agrees with another quote.  Perhaps we should think about what we are thinking about!

“What comes out of your mouth is determined by what goes in to your mind.”                            Zig Ziglar

I decided to do something fun, just for the fun of it and go to the county fair this weekend. Having a birthday coming up reminding me I am now officially a senior, I still felt like a little kid all excited because I was going to go to the fair on Friday night! I watched the clock, counting down the minutes for school to get out so I would be off work. I made arrangements to meet a friend, another writer, at the gate at a specific time.

As part of the R. B. writers group, we agreed to previously enter a short story and our poetry. The reason I submitted my story was to be a participant in the creative writing division. Due to the fact I facilitate the writer’s group for our area, I thought it would be a good example to enter my writing at the fair. During the week I work to help those who desire to become authors in the future, as well as others who already have their book published. Being involved with a county event was a great experience. By being an example, I desired to encourage other writers to fully embrace their desire to become authors, writing while having fun doing so.

My excitement about going to the fair was actually not all about the artwork or even the writing I submitted. It was actually about the pure, totally spun out, chemically colored, plastic wrapped, melt in your mouth, not on your hips, pink cotton candy. I somehow justified previously that it was a good idea to pay five dollars for parking, ten dollars to get in the gate, to have the opportunity to buy a five dollar bag of cotton candy. I know it is totally pure sugar with no redeeming value, yet I was determined to purchase it, while desiring to capture some childhood memories. Once a year, walking down the midway and eating a bag of cotton candy, sticky fingers and all, a kid’s dream come true!

To my surprise, while walking into the area where the art and creative writing was displayed I saw two blue ribbons and a white one attached to my art and writing. Seriously, I was shocked, for I did not expect to find any ribbons, for I knew I hadn’t finished the piece. It was a charcoal drawing of a lion. This was a great lesson to learn that others may not see what we see, and they didn’t know what my expectations were. Obviously they liked what they saw, regardless of what my futuristic thoughts were.

I read these words after coming home from the fair. I felt they were relevant to this moment in time. “When buying from an artist/maker, you’re buying more than just an object/ painting. You are buying hundreds of hours of failures and experimentation. You are buying days, weeks & months of frustration and moments of pure joy. You aren’t just buying a thing; you’re buying a piece of heart, part of a soul, a moment of someone’s life. Most importantly, you’re buying the artist more time to do something they are passionate about.”
Nancy Conant
We all may have different passions to take care of in life. I encourage everyone to celebrate each moment as we progress toward fulfilling our passion.. Although I am celebrating my gift of life, as well as my participation at the fair, I realize when the sun comes up in the morning, it is a new day and time to start with new ideas and goals to accomplish for another day, living life to the fullest.