Draw me nearer Lord!

You know that feeling in your heart.  That feeling of something wrong.  The feeling that something is missing.  That feeling that you forgot something important.  Well I have been walking for days now with that nagging feeling.  Every day the feeling gets stronger and I grow weaker.  The problem is, I do know what's wrong.  I certainly know what's missing.  And I surely have forgotten something very important.  I my dear friends have wandered away from my God.  He has not abandoned me.  He never does.  Yet I have faltered.  It's always us that does the leaving.  It's always us who strays and it's always us who blames Him for not being there for us.  How unfair!

My dear readers; today raise your hands and pray with me.  Pray that our Lord, the Savior of our souls, draws us nearer to Him, so that we too can relish in His abundant love.  Pray that He, our Salvation, draws us nearer to Him, so that we are not caught in sin.  Pray to our Lord, the Mighty that He draws us nearer to Him, so that we too can shower our love on the needy.  Let's all say:

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; 
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 
And let us exalt His name together.
I south the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:1-4 

"In You, O Lord, I put my trust;

Let me never be put to shame.

For You are my hope, O Lord God;

You are my trust from my youth.

Let my mouth be filled with Your praise

And with Your glory all the day.

Psalm 71:1, 5, 8

Whom them shall I praise?  Whom them shall I praise?

Our dear beloved Lord!  

The Savior of our Souls! 

The Mighty!  

The Forgiver!  

The Restorer!  

The Generous!  

The Provider!  

The Merciful!

The Creator!  

Hear my pleas O Lord and draw me nearer to You, so that I can once again walk in Your presence and be blessed by Your mercy.  Lord please forgive me my sins and allow me to humble myself.  Blessed God, please take the love for the world out of my heart and fill it with your bountiful mercy for everyone.  Lord use me for Your purpose.  In Your magnificent name I pray this.  Amen! 

Optimist-Pessimist-Realist-Me...

You know what the difference between a pessimist, an optimist and a realist is?  There are many jokes explaining the difference.  One I like is; a pessimist says the glass is half empty, an optimist says the glass is half full, and a realist drinks the glass of water and asks what's next.  And the difference between all three of these categories and me is...(drum roll please)... They chose to be classified, and I just chose to be happy! Yup.  That's it.  There is not a single thing to complain about in my opinion.  Even the worst of times that I may be going through, I thank God for.  I have been calleelf-righteous and sanctimonious, and have been told that the thin air on my high horse is affecting my thinking.  You know what I say?  I say, I am covered by God's grace and am not at all bothered by the words of those that do not understand.  It simply makes me smile.  

It's hard for people to understand or perhaps accept that a change is indeed possible.  What always was, doesn't always have to be.  As in, if a person acted  badly for a long period of time, doesn't mean that is how they will be for the rest of their lives.  Everyone goes through situations in life that changes them, and allowing that change to occur gives them an opportunity to not go back to what wasn't working.  Christ blessed the promiscuous woman, when no one else would dare speak to her and had casted her away.  She was anew in Christ and was cleansed. Christ died so that we can have that connection with our Lord without the guilt and condemnation we once felt.  He asks that we not commit the sins we once did. Ok, all mind games aside, let's see what our beloved Lord has to say on the topic of change and transformation.  

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."  

Ezekiel 36:26-27

"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." 

1 Peter 1:23

So what will you chose today?  Noticing that the glass is empty, full, or just drink it?  Try praising God and being happy perhaps, eh? If loving my God, and thanking Him for the blessings he bestows on me is being self-righteous and sanctimonious, then yes, YES I am that.  And I am not sorry about it.  I don't feel depressed, sad, lonely, angry, guilty or any other negative feeling.  As situations present themselves to me, I turn to God and ask for His help and His guidance.  I trust that He will see me through them as He promises us He will.  What God knows about me is more important than what others think about me. 

Nowhere to hide -

Q:  You want to tell me something?
A:  Like what?
Q:  You're hiding something from me.
A:  I have nothing to hide.  My conscious is clear.  What has happened?
Q:  "Every time you were keeping something from me, you were keeping something from me."
A:  I have no idea what's going on, but I know as God as my witness that I am not hiding anything as there is nothing to hide.  Nothing has happened.  
---

Ever been in a situation where you know inside out that you're right about something but the other person doubts you, regardless?  How has that situation gone for you?  Difficult no?  As you want to please the person you love, and not fight.  But there seems no way for you to convince them of your innocence.  Or better yet, your ignorance of what it is they feel you have done. In order to walk away from such a confrontation remember these words from our God;

"...Remember that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Me (Your Lord).  You have been judged NOT GUILTY for all eternity.  Trust Me, and don't be afraid; for I am your Strength, Song and Salvation."  Interpretation from James 4:7; Romans 8:1-2; Isaiah 12:2

Our Lord also says; 

"...Anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle.  This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade.  It is precisely where I want you -- the best place to encounter Me in My Glory and Power.  When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to Me!  Allow Me to fight for you.  Watch Me working on your behalf, as you rest in the shadow of My Almighty Presence."  

Interpretation from Revelation 19:1; Psalm 91:1

The Almighty promises us that; 

"...I know every thought before you think it, every word before you speak it. My Presence impinges on your innermost being. Can you see the absurdity of trying to hide anything from Me?  You can easily deceive other people, and even yourself, but I read you like an open, large print book."  

Interpretation from Psalm 139:1-4; Ephesians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21

So when you feel cornered with no way out of a situation, seek the Lord and ask for His guidance and mercy.  For He knows you better than you know yourself.  Perhaps your loved ones get an inkling of something that you yourself haven't seen.  Instead of trying to prove your innocence/ignorance to them at a time when they are least receptacle to your words, turn to God and allow Him to work on your behalf.  If you truly trust in Him and ask for His help, He will let those that doubt know what the truth is.  You need not hide anywhere, as there is nowhere to hide from our God Lord Almighty.  Submit your troubles to Him and allow for His grace to work in your life.  

Lord help me through this troubled situation.  If there is something I have not acknowledged myself, please reveal it to me.  I trust You with my words, my decisions, and my life.  Let Your will be done.  Amen!!

  

Follow the leader

Have you ever played the game follow the leader?  I've seen it played in various ways and with different kinds of groups. In some groups it was played where everyone had to do what the leader was doing.  While in others, the group was all blindfolded and stood in a line.  Each person grabbed the shoulder of the person in front and followed wherever the leader took them; the leader was the only one not blindfolded.  What's the point to this you may be wondering.  Patience my friends, you know I don't bring up a topic unless it's relevant to what I want to discuss.  So playing games is enjoyable, right?  Enjoyable because it's pretend, and doesn't impact real life.  No?  What happens if you find out one day that life is a game. Do you do anything differently? If so what?

Well in the game of life, there is only one leader.  No you don't have to guess who.  And if you thought of anyone but the One and Only God, then you need to sort your priorities.  In a game of pretend, it's easy to follow the leader.  But when it comes to real life, and real consequences, we tend to forget who our Leader and Master is.  Instead of following His direction and commands for us, we tend to rely on ourselves.  Well how is that working out for all?  Yeah, some are doing really well; lots of money in the bank accounts, houses, cars, jewelry, everything you ever wanted or needed.  But do they have peace? Others are wondering whether they will have food to eat tonight, or shelter to sleep under.  No matter where you are in game of life, you must acknowledge the God who watches over you.

I'll share a brief story.  I was skeptical of God and His existence as I always looked at the inconsistencies in life.  Rich getting richer, when they don't worship.  Poor getting poorer when all they do is pray.  The bad getting away with crimes and never knowing God.  The good coming down with deadly disease when they follow all commandments of God.  I used to ask, how can a God that sees all this be the God to worship. Then like a flick of a light switch everything was illuminated (well not exactly, but it sounds better to say it that way). It took a very long time for me to understand and accept God's love, forgiveness, mercy and grace.  But now that I have, all my questions seem to be answered and I wonder how I ever questioned Him to begin with.  I know I wasn't alone though, as many question the same things.  You know what's cool? That our loving God wants us to ask Him these questions. To Him it shows that we're interested enough to care why certain things happen. However the wonder of it all is, that we may never truly understand even when He does respond. For He says;

"Understanding will never bring you peace. That's why I have instructed you to trust in Me, not in your understanding." Interpretation from Proverbs 3:5-6

Know this!

God is in the midst of the weakest person, dying of thirst. So that he dies with peace in his heart.

Lord Almighty lives within the sloth who sits and eats all day. So that he feels sees right from wrong.

God walks with the crippled that can't feel his legs. So that he can feel alive.

Lord Almighty gives more to the greedy who has everything. So they may give back to the needy.

 God places His hand on the poor when they are too cold to sleep. So they can feel His warmth.

So no matter what sins you have committed or haven't committed in life, take a chance and follow the Lord. He will wash away all your sins and accept you with open arms into His holy presence. He will bless your heart and soul and allow you to feel His mercy in your lives.  Whether life is a game or not, our Lord is our Leader and Master and we must follow Him.  Follow His word, His messengers/prophets, His commandments, His mercy, His forgiveness, His compassion, His grace, His never ending love for us all. Sinners and saints alike.  Yes, it's a hard pill swallow, but that's the grace of God!  He loves us all so very much.  He has so much love to give, that every being on this earth can stretch out their hands to carry such bounties, yet it will still overflow.  Just surrender to Him my friends, and see what your tomorrow will bring. Follow Him!  Accept Him into your lives. Allow Him to lead you to the path of those He has blessed. Allow His Holy Spirit to lead you beyond borders you have created for yourselves. Give up the struggle of figuring it out for yourselves.  Just like a father takes care of his children, like a teacher teaches his students, like a captain leads his soldiers, like a president commands his country; our Lord is our Father, our Teacher, our Captain, and our President, all in one. Then why do you think twice about following Him?  The time of thinking is over. The time of acceptance of His will over ours is here.  

My Lord, let Your will be done in our lives and let us always follow You, Your Word, and Your Spirit. Amen!!!

Blessed be the name of the Lord

"Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise.

When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say; 

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name."

It's certainly easy to praise God in our good times. When we have everything we want and long for. When all our needs are met, our health is in good shape, and we are surrounded by our loved ones.  Yes, it is indeed effortless to be grateful and to praise God Almighty when things are well.  Let's turn the situation around now. How do we act when we don't have everything we want, and our needs are not being met, or we contract a terrible disease, and/or our loved ones leave us.  In those times why do we turn away from God? Is being grateful conditional to God giving us what we desire? So basically you strike a bargain with the Lord then, eh?  How sad and disgraceful.  

"Not for a moment does He forsake us..." 

"He cannot love us any more or any less than He loves us this very instant."

Yet our love, our gratefulness, and our praise for Him is tentative.  However, this tentativeness doesn't deter Him from us.  Nothing keeps Him from pursuing us. He watches over us as a father would. He hurts when we distance ourselves from His love.  It pains Him to see us worship idols.  After all we do to ache Him, He still longs for us to commune with Him.  He tells us to, "come to Him continually. I am meant to be the Center of your consciousness, the Anchor of your soul..." (Interpreted from Hebrews 6:19, 1 John 2:28, and Matthew 22:37).  So then why do we turn away?  Why do we ask, "why have you forsaken us?"  Can't we feel His pull?  He knows that, "...our minds will wander from Him, but he asks how far we will allow it to wander. He says that as we drift away from Him, His Spirit within us gives a tug, prompting us to return to Him..." (Interpreted from Hebrews 6:19, 1 John 2:28, and Matthew 22:37).  For being the Lord of all the heavens, He makes this much effort to know us, to walk with us, to be in our every thought; then why do we not long for Him as such?

It says in scripture to thank God for everything.  Even in our troubling times, we should thank Him.  Don't turn away from Him for it says; 

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you.  He will be with you; He will never fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:8 

"[He] loves us at [our] darkest" Romans 5:8. 

All He asks is the same from us. Our God is alive, with us, and within us. How lucky and blessed are we! Praise God!! Our Lord knows of our suffering as He too has suffered from our transgressions.  How do we then justify not praising such a loving, forgiving, and merciful Lord?  So today my friends, please join me in singing His praises:

"Bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His holy name.

Sing like never before, oh my soul, I'll worship Your holy name.

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning; it's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me, let me be signing when the evening comes.

Bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His holy name.

Sing like never before, oh my soul, I'll worship Your holy name."  

     

Walk in the park?

Ever wished following the right path of the Lord would be easy?  I mean, we believe right.  So why do we have to struggle so much?  Why can't we simply wake up and be perfect human beings who are loved and cherished by God?  Aha!  But you are loved and cherished by God my dears.  God can't love us anymore than how much He loves us right now in this moment, and every moment thereafter.  It is us, mere humans, who believe we have to do certain things to earn God's love and mercy.  When all that God wants is to have us follow Him.  Have us look for Him in everything.  Have us trust in Him.  But it isn't so easy is it?  It isn't easy to follow Him, look for Him, and or trust Him.  As following Him, looking for Him, and trusting Him requires us to change our ways.  So it isn't always a walk in the park for most of us.  However God isn't seeking perfection from us.  

So what does it take to follow God?  It takes each of us picking up our crosses each and every day and walking right beside Him.  You can take the phrasing picking up a cross however you feel it applies to you.  As for some it could be giving up drugs, whilst for others it could be not lying.  Neither of which is easy for the person having to give it up.  Trying to change who you are or have become doesn't happen over night and sometimes not at all.  So those that do it, and make it through, they do indeed pick the heavy burden of their cross and walk alongside God.  As they decided that being one with God, and having the mercy of His grace is more significant to them then their additions.  

Now what does it take to look for God in everything?  This sort of becomes that little voice on your shoulder that tells you to do something or not do something.  In this scenario what ends up happening is, your willingness to put aside what you want and putting in the forefront your desire to seek God.  This could be; not purchasing new shoes and instead buying a meal for a homeless person, or giving up on a fancy meal for yourself to get someone a blanket to sleep in on the streets.  Your eagerness to pursue God in place of worldly things are certainly noticed by the Almighty. 

Finally, what does it take to trust the Lord?  This is the hardest, as it requires complete surrender to His will. By far this is what most everyone struggles with as we feel we are independent and can handle whatever comes at us.  What we fail to realize is that our independence, strength, courage and determination that it takes to get anything done comes from Him.  So if instead of relying on our own understandings, we gave it to God, it would please Him so much.  For he says:

"...I divided time into days and nights so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle.  My grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time.  When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame.  You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry...Enjoy My presence continually by trusting Me at all times."

Interpretation from; Matthew 6:34, 2nd Corinthians 12:9, and Psalm 62:8

So my dear friends, don't stress yourself about doing everything the right way to please God.  Doing everything correctly is not a walk in the park and don't forget God doesn't expect perfection from us.  He simply wants us to follow Him, look for Him, and trust Him.  May He guide us to do His will as commanded. Amen!!

Believing v. Trusting

To believe means to accept something as true; or feel sure of the truth of.  Well in that sense I believe in flying reindeer, unicorns, leprechauns, big foot, and ninjas to name a few. However, is believing in something enough? Kids believe in Santa Clause, until the day they catch their dad placing gifts under the tree.  So I ask, is believing in God enough?  Is believing He exists and is here for us through everything sufficient? Hmm...as you probably guessed, we'll evaluate it.

Consider the scenario where you have hit bottom, and you find yourself between the rocks and a hard place. There is no family and or friends around.  Correction; family and friends are there, yet you feel so ashamed that you cannot turn to them for help.  As the last time you had reached this level, they helped you through it. They found you work, a home, and stabilization.  Yet you left it all behind to feed your habit.  Now you find yourself in the position you were in, but know or at least feel they aren't going to be there for you as before.  You are living out your car, and stand at the side of the road everyday with a sign that reads, "Need money for food.  Don't use drugs.  Anything helps!"  Unfortunately only a few seem to believe the middle sentence of your sign and do not feel empathy for your situation.  Night after night you crawl up under an old jacket in your car and cry yourself to sleep.  Your shoes are so worn out that they have holes.  Even in this situation, when someone gives you money, you quickly spend it on your habit instead of putting food in your belly, or getting yourself a hot drink to keep you warm.  How did I get here you ask yourself.  You remember the good days and the message of God you received while recovering the last time.  The message that said to believe in God and His mercy.  You repeat to yourself, that I believe in God, He will help me through this. You say, I believe in His word and His mercy.  Over and over you say this, yet as soon as you have more money you are on the streets looking for a buy.  Why isn't God helping me through this.  I keep saying I believe.  Why isn't my situation changing...

It's not to say that God isn't listening to your belief in Him, if you do indeed believe and aren't just chanting the words. He wonders whether you actually trust him with your situation or believe only in the words you keep repeating.  For He wants you to feel the difference between believing in Him and trusting in Him.  What is the difference?  The difference is that when you truly trust in the Lord, you surrender to His will and then through His grace you're changed from the inside out.  Believing is good, don't think that it isn't.  It's simply not enough.  First step is to believe.  Second step is to trust.  In the first step you get God's attention to yourself.  In the second step you allow Him to work within you and help you.  In the first step you cast away sins.  In the second step you put God above everything else.  Think for a second about the person you love and trust most in the world.  Then amplify that love and trust by an unimaginable number, the highest digits possible.  That is how much our God almighty loves and cherishes us.  When we fall rock bottom and think we don't deserve better, He waits on us and calls us to Him.  He asks us to:

"...Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me.  When you lean on Me. for support, I delight in your trusting confidence..." Interpretation from Proverbs 3:5 and Isaiah 30:15 

"[Now] faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence if things not seen." 

Hebrews 11:1

    

Off with organized religion...

Whether you attend a Christian church, Muslim mosque, Hindu temple, or Jewish synagogue; the message received is often the same.  The message of serving God, worshiping God, being grateful to God, love and peace...  But then they begin to add things.  Religious prayers, religious ceremonies, how many times to bow, how many times to wash up, when you can't pray, when you can pray, etc.  Have you noticed how religion puts boundaries on your communion with God?  Do these religious buffs practice what it is they preach?  Do these so called pious people lead by example?  Are their lives reflective of God's beauty?  Or does it represent what God condemns.  Think about it for a hot second!  

The love for all and hatred for none message preached, where does it go when it comes time for application of the principle?  The non-judgmental acceptance they speak of, where is it outside the four walls of their establishments?  I am not asking anyone to abandon it all and seek God.  But as for me, I am abandoning it/them all and seeking the kingdom of God!!  My aim is to bring to light what is preached v. what is practiced, so that everyone can see for themselves what religion was at one point in time, what purpose it served, and what it is now; allowing people to make an informed decision for themselves.  Am I an expert on the topic?  No.  However I know enough to educate as many as I can, so that they open their eyes to the truth all around them.  

Religion is defined as an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.  It once brought people together in harmony to stand against empires that oppressed them.  People stood on a belief bigger than what they could see.  A belief of something better than what they had.  A belief in a God so mighty who would bring them out of the darkness and into the kingdom of heaven.  Religion stood for something then.  Alas, it isn't so anymore.  What happened one may ask.  People are fallible.  Worshiping prophets, instead of God.  Worshiping idols created by man, rather than the true Lord.  Focusing on the cultural systems, in place of the Almighty.  Preferring to care and impress world views, as a substitute to impressing the God who created us.  That's what happened.  

So out the window goes love, and down the toilet goes peace.  As the world grew, powers established, new empires built, a staleness came upon religion.  A state of stagnant disposition.  Freedom of religion came into effect, allowing for worldly views and cultural systems to take hold and put on the back burner the faith in God.  Consider how previous empires were shaken to the roots.  By people like us, standing against them, their teachings, their oppression as a group.  Not by going along with whatever is said and done by the majority.  Ever wonder why this blog is titled awaken world?  It's because in our dormant state we have lost sight of the message of our God Lord Almighty.  The message of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and peace.  For it is written:

"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  We love Him because He first loved us."

1 John 4:16, 19  

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

John 5:24

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9

"You will keep him perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Consider what Jesus, Mohammed, Ram, and Moses would say to their religious followers if they walked the earth today?  Ashamed is God of us!  As He should be.  We have turned our backs to Him who created us and gave us the heaven and the earth.  We make rules up in our said religions as it suits us.  We judge those who don't follow the guidelines made up by man.  I trust only my God to judge me and my belief.  Off with organized religion and join me in laying down our lives for the one and only God!  The God who loves us so, that He knows every hair on our body.  The God that accepts us so, that He knows us each by our name. The God that forgives us so, that He covers all our sins.  The God that gives us peace, for He wants us to unite in harmony and worship Him and no one else.  Open your eyes and see Him!  

"I am nearer than you think, richly present in all your moments.  You are connected to Me by Love-bonds that nothing can sever...Ask me to open your eyes so that you can find Me everywhere...Faith is the confirmation of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, perceiving as real facts what is not revealed to the senses."

Interpretation from; Acts 17:27-28 & Hebrews 11:1  

Can the real God please stand up!

When you first open your eyes in the morning, and when you last close your eyes at night, what is the thought in your head?  Could be; worries about the next day, how you will be able to pay the electric bill, whether you will have a good day at work or will you be stressed again, will that lady in production be mean to you again, will you have enough money for dinner, why everything happen all at once, why you don't have enough money, why are your children not as behaved as others, why your love is not as strong, why don't they understand, how will you be able to get up in time, when will sleep come....?

Worries after worries.  Negative after negative thoughts.  Failure after failure.  

In your anguish you turn to many idol things; family, friends, coworkers, money, tarot cards, palm readings, hypnosis, lottery tickets, gambling, envy, anger, pride, wrath, etc.  Every day the same every night restless. Over and over you ask what's happening and why.  Yet no answer comes to you.  Your worries grow, and you begin watching your horoscope daily, as if that held the key somehow of how your day will turn out. You feel imprisoned in your own body.  You shake your fists at the heavens above for your bad fortune. Never once do you consider that perhaps you are relying on those people, things, objects, that can't help. You continue on your path of idolatry.  What, who, me??  I am not an idol worshiper.  Am I?  Unfortunately we all are in one way or another when we start focusing our attention on everything in this world, and not on our God.  We place our need for money, our self esteem and pride, our assets; houses, cars, bank accounts, all above our love and desire to commune with God Almighty.  In that sense, the money, the self, the house, the car, all become idols we begin to worship.  For it is written:

"Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father (God) is not in him.  For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father (God) but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

1 John 2:15-17       

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth."

Matthew 6:24

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?"

Luke 9:23-25

Let these words touch your body, mind and soul.  Every single day, in every prayer, I ask God to use me as His tool, to glorify His name, to serve His purpose; to give me the strength and courage to continue in my worship of Him.  Yet I still catch myself admiring my own worth and value and yearning for worldly things.  I realize what I ask is not straightforward or uncomplicated.  Yet I must ask you my friends, to take up the cross daily.  To turn to the one being who can truly relieve you of your worries, troubles, sorrows, and failures.  Can the real God please stand up, so that we, the unworthy can gaze upon Your glorious face till our days are done and beyond!  Can the real God please stand up and let us, the unholy, set You apart from everyone and everything else! Can the real God please stand up and let Your children's voices be heard over the cries of those engaged in blasphemy!  Thank You Lord, my God, my everything, for Your blessings, Your mercy, Your forgiveness, and Your love...   

"For when you seek Me instead of the world's idols, you experience My joy and peace.  These intangibles slake the thirst of your soul, providing deep satisfaction.  The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal.  The light of My presence is brilliant and everlasting.  Walk in the Light with Me.  Thus you become a beacon through whom others are drawn to Me." (Interpretation from; Exodus 20:4-5 and Samuel 22:29)

The light at the end of the tunnel...

You find yourself in a dark place with no way out.  You seem to be walking in all directions, and every which way you turn the darkness seems to grow instead of lesson.  You get exhausted and sit down against the dark walls.  You feel doomed and forsaken.  You first ask why you?  Then you curse the gods for your situation.  You even bargain for your release.  No matter what you say or seem to do, you simply can't find your way...

But wait, what is that shimmer?  Right there, in that far corner of your eye.  You see it, but it seems far far away.  You tell yourself that you must try though. So you pull yourself back up and start going towards what seems to be a shimmer just in the corner of your eye.  Is this even real you ask.  Or have you been in the darkness too long that your eyes are playing tricks on you.  But it is certainly something, so you keep heading in the direction you feel the shimmer of light is coming from.  Slowly, carefully you step forward, one foot in front of the other.  Simply trusting what you feel is your instinct.  Is the shimmer getting brighter you think?  You rub your eyes roughly. You squint and then open them up wide.  It can't be...but it is. Yes, you see some light.  You now pick up your pace.  Though you can't see where you're stepping, you begin to run towards the light.  Why is it taking forever to reach it?  Can't give up now.  Your legs begin to tire out and you start wondering if you're seeing something that truly isn't there. Is it an oasis?  It seems as real as your breath, and as real as the feet under you.  You feel you can reach out and touch it but every time you stretch out your hand, it is just a bit beyond your reach. Yet you keep moving forward.

After what seems like hours, or maybe even days, you see the light getting brighter.  How long have you been walking?  Why are you not thirsty?  Why are you not hungry?  What's going on here you wonder.  Okay, you say to yourself.  My mind has got to be playing tricks on me.  To gather yourself, your thoughts, and your mind, you sit back down.  This time when you sit, you begin to talk.  You don't at first realize what you're doing as there is no one else there in the darkness, and in the depths of this hell you are in. Yet it feels like you're talking to someone who's sitting right next to you.  You begin to say, 'where am I God?  Is it You who is showing me this light?  This light that I have been following for so very long and can't reach.  Is it even real God?  What's going on here?  How long have I been in the dark? What do I do?'  You sit there waiting for a reply.  When none seems to come you begin to get up, but you can't feel your feet.  Then as if the voice is emanating from within you you hear the words, "Let Me show you My way for you this day.  Concentrate on staying close to Me.  Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders.  Discipline your thoughts to trust Me as I work My ways in your life.  Pray about everything; then leave outcomes to Me.  Do not fear My will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me." You are left sitting there in shock and in wonder. You dare not move, as if you're frozen still right where you are.  You contemplate the words you heard in your heart and soul. Right then as if it wasn't even in your control, you kneel and begin to pray like you never have before.  You say;

'Oh my Lord, I hear You.  I hear Your blessed voice speaking to me.  Lord though I am not worthy, You have chosen to seek me out and speak to me personally.  Thank you Lord. My God, in this time of darkness of mine, I come to you with arms wide and heart abandoned.  I need You more than I have ever needed anything else in my life Lord.  Nothing else matters to me except Your will, Your guidance, and Your forgiveness.  Whether it is today when I am lost in the darkness, or tomorrow when I am joyful.  You are what I need.  Lord guide me to the right path.  The path that leads me out of this place and into Your light.  For without You I am nothing and will be lost in here for ever.  You are the one who led me thus far, and You alone can bring me out of here. Please Lord, help your humble servant.  Amen!'

After praying these words, you get up and look above you, then ahead of you.  Though it is still dark and you cannot see your own hand, you feel you know the way as you aren't alone now.  You feel energized though the situation you are in has not changed any.  One step after another you move ahead.  Each step with more conviction and more determination.  With each step you praise God. You don't know how long you do this but it no longer feels like eternity. You're smiling throughout your walk and feel a joy inside that you cannot understand. Then there it is.  One more step and you will be standing tall in the light.  You hesitate for only a moment, not knowing what awaits you, and then in the name of God you take your last step into the light and you allow it to engulf you.  How great is our God you say.  Thank you Lord for hearing my pleas for help!
---

Know in your heart that this too shall pass.  Whatever troubles you're finding yourself in, whatever issues you are facing, whatever bills you cannot pay; Entrust the Lord with your burdens and then trust His will for the outcome.  That light at the end of the tunnel does exist and it's His everlasting love for us and His forever presence in our lives.

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Therefore if God makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

John 8:32, 36    

    
         

Wants--Needs--Haves

Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss!  

Awaken my fellow humans and let's do something about creating 'world peace'.  What is it that's causing these wars around the world?  Power struggles?  Religious freedom, or lack there of?  Economic disasters? Can you think of the cause of each of these?  I hate to over simplify the causes of wars, but sometimes you have to find the common denominator to see the truth.  So what is the consonant purpose of these wars? Well wanting more of everything, of course.  Wanting the unattainable.  Want, want want, need, need need, must have have have....   Behold the words:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Psalm 23:1   

Ever been at a place in life where you gave your everything to a person, a situation, or a relationship; yet you were left disappointed, alone, and sad?  Why is that I wonder.  Did you not do something right?  Did you think you gave it your best but held back?  All I can relay is what I feel is the answer.  This by no means is an all encompassing solution.  Just some ideas on the topic.  So here it goes.

When you try to please a person, you lose yourself in them.  Your identity gets lost in them somehow.  You begin to identify yourself by their accomplishments.  You're affected by their moods, their attitude, their behaviors.  You forget what you used to be like before them and what you would possibly do without them. Once you lose your own self to someone else, you can't expect to walk away and not be disappointed, not feel alone, or not be sad.  Instead of giving your all to a person or a situation, why not try to surrender your everything to God and let Him make your relationship or situation better.  Something to think about at least. 

Back to the wars of the world.  Those leaders that are so motivating with their words and convince many to follow them into battle, what if they were to lead the followers to God.  The true God.  The only God.  What if instead of sacrificing their followers for their own cause, they offer themselves up to God and pray for the betterment of their followers.  What if instead of feeding lies about heaven and hell they speak the truth of God.  What if instead of craving power, they become slaves themselves to God.  Wouldn't that be a wondrous site.  Alas, if it were only that easy.  

There is so much wisdom in scripture if you only take the time to read.  I don't think you even have to be a believer to understand and learn from the true word of God.  He asks us to surrender to His will, and promises us that He will lead our paths.  He asks us to lean on Him and not our own understandings.  He asks us to give Him our troubles because He can bare them.  He tells us to love one another, as He loves us. He asks us to forgive each other, as He has forgiven us. So if our Lord God can love us in our darkest moments and forgive us our worst sins; then who are we not to love and forgive each other?  I suppose that's the question asked over and over throughout history.

         "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, 

or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. 

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15

How sins impact us - Wrath/Anger

Wrath is simply defined as, extreme anger. But there really isn't anything simple about the word is there. When you try to look up wrath on Wikipedia, it redirects you to anger and it says; Anger is an emotional response related to one's psychological interpretation of having been threatened. Often it indicates when one's basic boundaries are violated.

What does that mean when you're trying to interpret anger/wrath as a sin? What I should have done when I started writing about the 7 deadly sins was to describe what a sin is. Better late than never, I suppose. A sin is the act of violating God's will. There is much scripture on the topic of wrath and anger.

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

James 1:19-20

and

"In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath."

Ephesians 4:26

and

"He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly."

Proverbs 14:29

and

"Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools."

Ecclesiastes 7:9

and

"Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Do not fret--it only causes harm."

Psalm 37:8

Scripture aside, consider this real life example of anger.  A couple devoted to each other solely, argue now and then, but remain faithful and true to each other through thick and thin. One is in extreme depression, and the other does what they feel right to provide support.  Day after day, week after week, month after month, years after years, nothing changes.  Correction, the depression gets worse.  As anyone with depression would attest, some days are certainly better than others.  Many of the  better days are spent in laughing and enjoyment, and they thank God for those days.  Yet the heavier burdened days take their toll on the relationship.  The one holding the two together feels deprived and feels taken for granted.  If it isn't this, it is that, always something to make things more complicated, harder, more difficult to handle.  Till one breaks down and gives in to anger/wrath.  Sadly, it would not be a complete story if it was only once they reverted to anger. The person seeks God's guidance and asks for patience.  However baring different situations, or better yet, opportunities God gives to practice the patience, leads to wrath rather than patience and peace. They fail. They try again, and they fail again.  Over and over.  

What frail creatures we are.  How we try to do right, and are faced with such challenges that make us sin. That furthers us away from each other, and especially God.  It is not the fault of partner who has a chemical imbalance that causes them to be unwell.  At the same time, it is not the fault of the partner who does what they can to help.  The fault lies in giving into the temptations the devil presents each.  People, I cannot stress enough that we must pay attention to how the devil works.  You may have heard the phrase, God works in mysterious ways.  But remember this one that, the devil works in mischievous ways.  He uses trickery to make you believe things that aren't true.  If something is on your mind that you're struggling with, he makes it worse by telling you it's bigger than what it is, or it's more than what it is.  Don't give in to the devil my friends.  I unfortunately am not above any other and have indeed given in to him myself, though I try not to.  I shall keep trying to fight him, as it's a daily battle.  Remind yourselves of God's promise to us.  Remember to put Him above all else and let him guide your ways.  Let Him lead you away from sin.  Though I am a believer I too strife with this.  It isn't easy and anyone that tells you otherwise isn't being honest.  Recognize that wrath/anger only leads to hurt feelings and hurt relationships.  Therefore do not turn a blind eye to the wrath inside yourselves.  Learn to address it and control it.  Pray to God for patience, understanding, forgiveness, compassion, and for His blessings on you.  For it is written: 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6          

How sins impact us - Pride

  Pride is an inwardly directed emotion that carries two common meanings. With a negative connotation, pride refers to an inflated sense of one's personal status or accomplishments, often used synonymously with hubris.  With a positive connotation, pride refers to a satisfied sense of attachment toward one's own or another's choices and actions, or toward a whole group of people, and is a product of praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging (Wikipedia).  

Since this blog is talking about sins, I will focus my energy on the negative connotation of the word pride.  Ever known people who's pride is everything to them?  Above their family, above their children, literally above all, including God?  They kill to protect their pride.  Lest they do not know that whatever it is they are proud of, whatever it is that has given them such pride comes from God. Yet who is not accusable of this sin?  I am egregiously guilty myself.  Not as much as I once was, but still guilty nonetheless.  What we have to remember is that when we start worshiping ourselves, money, status or position, we are walking away from God.  As in the state of worshiping these things, we create idol gods who cannot provide us with anything but shallowness and emptiness.  We are taken by ourselves and led away from what matters.
  
For God says; 'I designed you to enjoy Me above all else.  You find the deepest fulfillment of your heart in Me alone. Fearful, anxious thoughts melt away in the Light of My Presence.  When you turn away from Me, you are vulnerable to the darkness that is always at work in the world.  Don't be surprised how easily you sin when you forget to cling to My hand.'  

Interpreted from Psalm 62: 5-6 which reads:

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.

6 

Truly He is my rock and my salvation;

    He is my fortress, I will not be shaken."      

and also from Isaiah 41:10 which reads:

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Every single day I pray for humility as I know one of my greatest weakness is pride.  To me it's interesting to watch individuals who have lost everything they held most dear in this world, but have yet to lose their pride. With nothing left, they walk without humility and take what is given.  I wonder to myself if they thank God for what they are given out of selflessness by others.  As I've said before, surrender to God and you will be given His grace and His bounties.  For that is what one should be proud of!  The bible says;

'But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.'

James 4: 6-7, 10

I have read somewhere that a giving hand is better than a taking hand.  So give openly my people.  Do not hold onto your worldly wealth and do not take pride in it. As you are but a Sheppard, taking care of His world, His earth, His wealth, His belonging, and His people.  Whatever you have in this world, you cannot take with you to the next.  So then what makes you so proud?  Shouldn't the pride be His alone?  And if so, then shouldn't we bring praise to Him so that His name and His glory is placed above our own pride? Nothing we have is ours to keep.  What we have today could be gone tomorrow.  But God was, God is, and God forever will be.  Humble yourselves my dear friends.  As only humility brings us closer to what we need to be proud of; God's endless love for us!  

  

Receiving our Lord's peace in time of trial -

The peace I felt was indescribable.  I woke up this morning at 4 am, faced with a very troubling situation.  After praying while crying heavily for some time, I gathered myself up and took to the road.  Driving hither and thither, looking every which way, I drove and I prayed.  I gave my body, mind and soul to the Lord and asked for His guidance, His wisdom, His strength for me to deal with what it was I was faced with.  I surrendered to His will and simply prayed.  I made a few probing calls and then continued driving and praying from the depth of my soul.  Then as if all the burden, weight, and pain from my body was lifted off.  I felt internal peace!  I am not using these words sparsely here. With all honesty I cannot explain what phenomenon occurred in that moment, in that car; but it relieved me of my tension, my stress, my anxiousness, and my worry.  I knew God my Lord had heard me and all was going to be well.  I was to leave it to Him to resolve and carry on my day with Him by my side.  Soon after I resolved to this, I offered a fast for the day to my Lord for his blessing, mercy and love.  To give thanks for His presence in my life.  I came home and laid on my bed and prayed some more.  My God, the Lord Almighty answered my prayers, as alas, I received the call I had been waiting for.  Thank you God!  THOU ART GREAT!!!  

Now, look at the words in the scripture I decided to post here.  Does my experience this morning not reflect those words exactly?  When will people of this earth realize the power of our Lord? When will they open their eyes to His wonders?  When will they embrace His grace? For those that have never felt such a feeling, I ask, what are you waiting for?  Why are you longing for anything?  Why do you worry? For the Lord our God has said; 

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  

So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  

Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. 

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." 

Matthew 6:25-32           

Seek Him.  Worship Him.  Praise Him. Turn to Him.  Do not stay in your worried states.  Do not be dismayed.  Do not remain in anger.  Certainly do not hate each other.  For that is not our purpose.  For His guidance for each of us is unique.  Let Him prepare you for the days that await you and point you in the right direction.  He is with you continually, so don't be intimidated by fear.  Though it stalks you, it cannot harm you, as long as you cling to His hand and keep your eyes on Him.  He speaks to us constantly, perhaps not in words but He speaks in faces and voices of loved ones, and softly in the depths of your spirit.  You can find Him in each moment, when you have eyes that see and ears that hear.  Simply ask His spirit to sharpen your spiritual eyesight and hearing.  

My dear people, don't just read these words.  Feel them inside of you.  Let them take hold of you.  Let them work within you to restore you.  Feel His forgiveness.  Feel His love for His people.  Feel His strength become yours.  Let Him lead you.  Surrender to His will.  You will be surprised by how very easy it becomes.  Thank you Lord for Your reassurance, Your presence, Your love, Your mercy and Your forgiveness.  Thank you my dear Lord for Your peace within me.  

How sins impact us - Lust

Lust is an emotion or feeling of intense desire in the body. The lust can take any form such as the lust for knowledge, the lust for sex or the lust for power. It can take such mundane forms as the lust for food as distinct from the need for food. Lust is a powerful psychological force producing intense wanting for an object, or circumstance, fulfilling the emotion. (Wikipedia)

I want to write a piece on each of the sins; starting with lust, to bring light to where certain actions of ours are derived from.  We have the definition of lust from a known source, let's take it apart now.  Why do you believe lust was categorized as a sin originally?  Why is having an intense desire for worldly things a sin?  Is it only a sin if you're lusting for a person, or also for things?  What happens if you are unable to attain that which you intensely desire?  

Consider the following scenario:  A child is in a checkout line at the local grocery store with you and sees a candy he really wants.  He asks for it, and you reply with a no.  The child more often then not, gets upset and begins to throw a temper tantrum.  Right?  This is not necessarily a bad reflection on your parenting; as children learn to find situations to do these acts in, situations where they feel you are unable to discipline them in front of strangers.  Back to the scenario. Whatever causes the child to act as thus is the same reason why we as adults behave the way we do when we do not get what it is we desire.  The only difference being, that the child is unaware of lust and is acting on impulse, and adults are aware of such a sin and chose to lust.  Unfortunately some of us lack self control and act on our lustful desires.  Lust is a sin because it takes us away from God and His plans for us.  

By the time we are an adult, we have certain values and morals instilled in us from our parents or other influences from our childhood.  This is the case whether we were brought up in a religious household or not, as all parents take it upon themselves to decide which values and morals to give importance to and what they feel isn't worth it. Perhaps there are those in the world that were never taught that lust is a sin.  Reality in my opinion is that we simply chose to remember certain morals and forget others.  Surely lusting after certain foods can't be that bad.  Or lusting after a promotion you so deserve.  Maybe even lusting after that women that lives in the neighborhood.  What's the worse that can happen?  The wrath of God you fools!!  Okay now with all seriousness, the worse that can happen is not what one should think about.  What one should remember is that you will need to answer for all your actions on this earth, to God in the afterlife.  So as long as you are prepared to do so without shame, then...  But who amongst you denies that little voice in your head that tells you right from wrong.  That same voice you drown away with your justifications.  That's the voice of the Holy Spirit, guiding you away from sin.  The justification comes from Lucifer, aka the devil.  For it is written: 

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." 

James 1:13-14 

As mentioned in many of my previous writings that things aren't easy or simple.  If they were then earth would certainly have peace as everyone would be easily able to battle sin.  It is the job of the devil to lead us astray.  It is up to us to be stronger willed than the devil.  Lust is extremely dangerous as it comes across innocent enough.  Psalms 23:1 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."  So if you allow God to fill your heart with His love, mercy and joy, then you can fight the worldly temptations.  Then what you have left after overcoming lust is the goodness of God!  That food you so desire, you don't want it because you are hungry.  You want/desire it because it is tempting you.  That promotion you so deserve will come to you when the time is right, and only God knows when that is.  And that woman you lust after is the wife of your neighbor.  Remember your commandments from God; Thou shalt not covet.

My dear people, always listen to the little voice in your head, unless of course the voice is of the devil.  How do you tell it apart?  You tell is apart by knowing in your heart, body, mind and soul that God only wants what's best for you and He will not tempt you.  So if the voice is urging you towards something you do not need, it isn't from God.  May our Lord, God Almighty give you the strength to fight the devils war he lashes against you daily, so that you may not lust.  Amen.    

"Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." 

Romans 6:14

For the One who gave it all!

I stand, my arms wide and heart abandoned.  In awe, of the One who gave it all.
I stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered.  All I am is Yours!

A father is a person who doesn't officially give birth to you, but definitely has a big part in creating you.  So when you think about it, even those that don't follow Christianity, you have to believe that God our Lord is our Creator and our Father.  If He hadn't made humanity, we wouldn't be here. The absolute beauty of our Lord God is that, even though we are not worthy, He loves us, each and every one.  He is our maker, He is our salvation, and He is our Father.

Consider how very lucky we are.  Us, the broken, the weak, the disheartened and the tortured.  Yes, we are lucky to have a God so loving and so merciful.  Though He made us all, and there are approximately 7 billion of us here on earth, He knows us all individually.  He knows every hair on our bodies.  He took time to create us in His image.  He gave us life because He loves us.  We commit sins and He forgives.  He wants to build a relationship with us, so he sent us Christ, his beloved.  Does anyone know a father so true to his word than our Lord?  He promises us that:

"Fear not for I am with you; Be not dismayed for I am your God.  

I will strengthen you, yes I will help you.  

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." 

Isaiah 41:10

The truth is, we are afraid of the love and mercy He bestows on us, and we are not willing to accept it.  Perhaps our sins are so deep and ugly that we are lost in our shame.  Remember though!  When God created Adam and Eve and gave them the garden of Eden, He was so close to His creation, man, and there was nothing between them.  All was open, all was free.  He gave man dominion over earth.  It was only when man committed sin is when shame came along.  Still, our God is so mighty that he rid us of our damnation, our shame, our fears, our worries and our sins, by accepting Christ's sacrifice and prayer for us.  Christ has risen and we are forgiven.  Hallelujah!

Our Lord, our Father, our everything, blesses us daily.  He loves us so that He gives us opportunities after opportunities to improve ourselves.  To lead better lives.  To be righteous.  To be truly worthy of His grace.  It is by His grace we are all here today.  It is His grace that provides for us.  It is His grace that heals us.  It is His grace that enables us to live the lives we do.  How great is our God!  There are those amongst us, who didn't have a proper upbringing.  Those that didn't have an earthly father to look up to.  A father to teach them.  A father to guide them.  But I ask those of you, why are you sad?  Is your Father in heaven not enough for you?  Did He not stay with you in nights you were alone and fearful?  Did He not comfort you in your time of need?  Did He not, day after day, provide and take care of you?  He is the one we need to look up to.  He is the one we need to learn from.  And he is the one we need to be guided by.  Do not forget, our God has never abandoned us and never will.  He is and forever will be our Lord, our Savior, our Father, our everything.  I will end with another promise from our Father in heaven:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

Isaiah 43:2            

Baby steps...

None of us are like the prophets of the old testament that can in an instant; part seas, move mountains or survive being swallowed by a whale and live to tell the tale.  We more than likely take time to accomplish any set task, whether it be as small as taking the trash out or changing the world.  I don't know if the following reference will be understood, but it's very relevant.

 

So how do we accomplish such unimaginable tasks then?  Is it even possible?  There are so many obstacles in the way to our goals.  Right you are- there are a lot of hurdles we have to jump over to get to the end goal.  But it can be done.  Having the right mindset and attitude is what will help.  Assuming you will fail before you even begin will not help.  Duh!

Taking small measurable steps in the right direction is where to begin.  Can't say this enough, even if you're tired of hearing it.  Start with yourself.  Did you notice the word "measurable"?  You need to be able to set goals that you not only can accomplish, but are measured in some way.  For example:  

Goal:  Today I will not complain.  

Measure:  I did not complain as often, as I only complained twice.

Next day goal:  Today I will not complain at all.

Measure:  Well I only complained once.

Following day goal:  If I complain today I will need to put a dollar in the jar.

Measure:  I did not complain today!  

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Goal:  Today I will not gossip.

Measure: Well that didn't work as I gossiped all day...

Next day goal:  Today I will try harder not to gossip.

Measure:  Hmm...I did better but need more work in this field.

Following day goal:  Today I must not gossip.

Measure:  Alright, I only gossiped once today.

Consequent day goal:  Today if I gossip I have to place two dollars in the jar.

Measure:  Hey looky here, I didn't gossip at all today!

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Note:  It isn't ideal to assume that you will accomplish the goals you set for yourself if you put a condition that you have to put money in a jar if you don't.  As you may not have the money, or better yet, stop carrying money and use that as an excuse.  The examples are meant to bring some humor into the situation.  

Now, with all seriousness.  Nothing in this world would be accomplished if everyone said, it simply cannot be done.  Any goal, project or idea has to start from somewhere.  Einstein coming up with the theory of relativity, or Da Vinci creating the Mona Lisa, or even America's forefathers getting the Declaration of Independence ratified.  It started with a belief in something that did not exist.  

 

So why can't you help me accomplish my mission of creating peace in the world.  Make goals for yourself to accomplish.  Make goals for your children to accomplish.  Start somewhere.  Grow and expand from there.  Ask for God's guidance.  If for whatever reason you don't believe in God, ask the ninja warrior for guidance then.  But do it.  Pray on your goals.  Hold yourself accountable for them.  Reset the goal to better yourself.  Say hi to someone that may need just that simply acknowledgment.  Smile at someone who looks like they are having a bad day.  Hug your loved ones.  Kiss your children.  BE HAPPY!!!  Yes, it is really that simple.  Try it and you may just surprise yourself.  If you start with baby steps, you will astonish yourself and those around you as to how many seas you can part, mountains you can move, and whales you can survive...   May God help you in your endeavors.  Amen!