They Just Don't Listen!

Sometimes we want to help others so much that we refuse to see their unwillingness to help themselves. It is easy to lose focus on what is right before our eyes. My inspiration for today's entry comes from the following quote:

You can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. ~Navajo Proverb

With these thoughts I remember to include in my prayers a comment to God about touching an individual's heart. That they may have a moment of clarity and make choices with full understanding. This is the most powerful thing you CAN do for someone who is otherwise not receptive.

CJ

Children Stressing You Out?

With the holidays coming up I was thinking about how some people get frustrated with their children. It is already a challenge to be a parent, but when our kids get rambunctious and it starts to grate on our nerves, we need to have patience.

If we have done our best to raise them, they know right from wrong, so why do they insist on making bad choices? Choices which put them on the naughty list or worse yet get them in trouble away from the home(sometimes even danger)?

Hmm?? (Look in the mirror) Does that seem at all familiar?

There is hope and it starts with home training.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

Does that mean we have to wait until he or she gets old to get on track??

No. The other part of the equation is our responses to them. If we respond to our children's unruly behavior with love and understanding, (like realizing that we were possibly the same way at thier age) we can teach them with our discipline rather than being overbearing dictators who provoke them. There is a lot less stress in love.

CJ

The Reward is Great

Our path comes with it's share of hard knocks, dark times, and negative atmospheres. So, sometimes we have to take a breath and remember God's promises. He said we would be persecuted for His name's sake and that following Him would not be easy, for if they hated Him, they will hate us also.

But the reward is great indeed, blessed are those who are persecuted for seeking righteousness. Not just in the after life, but in the here and now as a child of God.

So to quote a song I like...

"The steps we take are no easy road, but the reward is great for those who want to go."

CJ

My Cup Runneth Over

It's amazing what God can do for us when we stop creating barriers for ourselves. Once we let go of our Ego and self serving actions, and ask God for guidance and support, our blessings begin to flow like never before.

So instead of looking at life with the old question "Is the cup half empty or is it half full?" You can say "My cup runneth over!"



A couple of references for today's post:

The 23rd Psalm

and the song "Fill My Cup":

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
"Draw from my well that never shall run dry"

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!



CJ

The World Can't Take It Away

"This joy that I have, the world didn't give it to me!"

You might recognize this from gospel hymns sang in church. Oh how true it is.
I present for you the following bible verse which refers to God and where the joy comes from...

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

Blessings,
CJ

These are the times...

With so many negative headlines in the news like outrageous gas prices, increasing mortgage rates, and banks closing it is easy to get overwhelmed. At times like this we need some guidance. Here is a little mantra that might assist in getting direction:

"Pray for understanding,
Hope for better times,
Ask for help,
and wait for focus."

You see sometimes no matter how intelligent we might be, we don't grasp the full meaning of our surroundings. Praying for understanding can bring peace to our cluttered minds. Even though the world too often seems to be headed to Hell in a handbasket, when we embrace Hope for the future we are inspired to be our better selves. No one should be expected to change the world alone, even our own immediate world. Asking for help from friends, family or co-workers may be just the thing to allow us to see over the horizon and realize we are not alone.

Lastly, I mention waiting for focus because too often we expect change to occur at our convenience. We know that things don't always happen the way we would like them to, but we forget that how we see things can be tainted by our unrealistic expectations. So if we settle down and pay attention, we can wait for our hearts and mind to become one and focus on what really matters.

Just my thoughts for today,
CJ

Play in the Sunshine

People say you have to stop and smell the roses, I say you have to play in the sunshine...(**Inspired & Paraphrased from the song "Play in the Sunshine" by Prince, circa 1987**)
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We're gonna play in the sunshine,we wanna be free.
Without the help of Margarita or Exstacy.
We wanna kick like we used to, sign up on the dotted line.
We're gonna dance every dance like it's gonna be our last time.

I wanna meet you-kiss you-love you-miss you- do it all over again.

We're gonna play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over.
I'm feelin' kind of lucky 2night, I'm gonna find my 4-leaf clover.
Before my life is done I'm gonna someway, somehow have fun.

We're gonna love all of our enemies, we're gonna teach them that love will make them strong.
In this world where the color green'll make your best friend leave you, just remember one day, every day will be filled with yellow sunshine, so let's play!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The meaning can be super way off base abstract, but I love the new twist on smelling roses...:-)

CJ

The Dash

Sometimes we need to be reminded what's important. Here I present a copy of Linda Ellis' now famous poem...

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak, at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on this tombstone from beginning ….to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth and spoke the following with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all, was the dash in between those years.

For the dash represents, all the time he spent alive on earth.
And how only those who loved him know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash,
what matters most is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what is true and real.
And always try to understand, the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,
and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile.
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash
would you be proud of the things they say and how your spent your dash?

Be True to Yourself

"Say what you mean and act how you feel,because those who matter don't mind,and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel)

Sometimes you find yourself editing your words or thoughts in the company of others or most often in front of strangers. Surely this can be a helpful practice, if you tend to open your mouth wide to insert your foot, like we all do once in awhile...:-)

However, many times we edit ourselves because we are too worried about what someone else might think or say in response. If you find yourself doing this too often, perhaps it's time to understand why you do it. Is it fear? or an old habit?

The people who truly care about you will always listen without prejudice and offer advice should they hear something they think you need to re-consider. People who don't know you yet or who only offer negativity in response to your ideas are not people you should worry about.

Be true to yourself, learn to follow your instincts and don't worry about what 'they' will say. As a matter of fact, you might find others are interested in the heartfelt words that flow from you.

CJ

What are you waiting for?

"Sometimes opportunity doesn't knock, sometimes you have to go outside-down the street-cross the barbed wire fence- and dig it up yourself!" - CJ

As you know, we get bogged down in the barriers and challenges that are ever present in our life. We don't step back often enough to realize that many times we are our own greatest barrier to achieving our goals. We get comfortable in a rut, un-noticeably complacent or just down right lazy.

If it seems like you have been waiting a really long time for something better to come along or for the 'right' moment to make a change in your life, maybe that moment is now.

So, what are you waiting for?


CJ

You: Defined

"Smile at who you are, don't frown at what you've done; for the things of our past need not define who we are today." - CJ


How empowering it can be to realize that you don't have to fit into a category based on the things you have done in your life. Whether failures or successes, you are truely the sum of all the things you have done and continue to do. My thought for the day.

Under the weather?

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - M. Kathleen Casey

I was feeling out of sorts yesterday, but in the spirit of feeling much better, I embrace this quote...:-)

I think it speaks to our willingness to not let our sicknesses get the better of us. We all get sick from time to time and feel like we are suffering to no end. However, if we keep a positive attitude and do our best to handle the situation within our limits, we might find that we are not suffering afterall.

CJ

Taking Time

""Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon

I think sometimes we take for granted that we have such a thing as 'free will'. We surround our lives with all sorts of duties & menial tasks and we allow them to be monitored by the clock. We forget to take time for ourselves, time to wind down, time to gear up, time to reflect, or time to volunteer. It is our free will to do any of these things.

We must choose to devote time and space to these activities which offer no monetary reward and most often no outward recognition. But it can have the most wondrous effect on us when we make that choice and take time...

To meditate for our peace of mind.
To wind down and relax so that we don't get overwhelmed with external pressures.
To gear up and prepare for the day or an event and consciously ready ourselves for the challenges.
To reflect on meaningful things in our lives.
To volunteer our time or service to another or a worthy cause.

CJ

Enough for Today

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." - Abraham Lincoln

Sometimes we feel like we cannot face another day. We are tired, sad, overworked and underpaid. What would happen if we instead considered the opportunities that each day brings?

Perhaps it's not just 'another day, another dollar', maybe it's more like another day of practicing patience and attitude re-direct brings another day of inner peace and outer positivity. One day at a time...:-)

CJ

Bottled Up

"Get mad, then get over it." -Colin Powell

How often have you seen, heard, or been a part of an incident where people are arguing and one person doesn't speak their mind? They walk away and keep their feelings to themselves, all the negativity and anger. This is most dangerous when you say nothing and harbor the anger you are feeling deep inside. Over time you begin to resent the other person, break away from any meaningful relationship with that person and in extreme cases end up hating them or planning revenge.

Of course it is not wise to react immediately to a confrontation where you find yourself constantly bickering or arguing, but there is a certain value to venting. Does that mean that walking away is a bad idea? No, but this works best for the kind of person who likes to think things over before reacting. You think things over, maybe talk it over with a trusted friend and then decide on the best way to respond.

Too often we harbor anger in our hearts and don't realize the harm we do to ourselves. Keeping the negative feelings of anger inside of us can distract us from doing more constructive things, can cause us to be less aware of our surroundings, and ultimately can make us physically ill. When we are angry at someone else and don't find a way to deal with the situation, it is much like stabbing our own heart and waiting for the other person to bleed.

So don't bottle up your negative emotions. Find a way to express your anger without hurting yourself or others and move forward to healing beyond that incident.

CJ

Turn, Turn, Turn.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" - (Common Bible - Ecclesiastes 3:1)


Charleton Heston passed away last Saturday. Hollywood, movies in general and the public have suffered a great loss. It reminds us all that life for each individual on this planet is limited to a time. We don't know when that time will expire, we only know that while we are here, alive and kicking, we should make the most of every moment.

CJ

Friday Positivity

"Turn your face to the sunshine and all shadows fall behind." - Helen Keller


Now that's deep.

CJ

Time to postpone procrastination

For today, a quick reminder that we cannot reach our next goal while remaining inactive. I think we have all been guilty of putting things off every now and again, but sometimes we get too complacent with where we are and that can be a problem. Of course there is nothing wrong with being comfortable and living life with out many worries. However, challenges and tasks (especially those we present to ourselves) can be tools that help us truly grow to where we want to be.

"Never wait so long to act that you forget your goal" - CJ

Been there, Done that.

"The ride up front is better when you've been in the back!" - Prince (from the song "Now")

Sometimes when I talk to people who need advice I find they are feeling stuck in a rut and can't see anything positive on the horizon. I share my story with them and remind them that hard work and perseverance really can pay off.

You see I certainly have been in the back before! I remember one fo my first jobs was working in restaurant, so long ago it seems like another lifetime. I worked very hard and would put in a 75 hour week sometimes. From open to close and everything in between, asst. manager, cashier, host/greeter, cook, butcher, sandwich maker, bus-boy, janitor, and garbage man.

But it was a learning experience and one of many places I would have to travel through to be a better me.

Happy Wednesday!!
CJ

Under pressure?

"Giving up or giving in is always easier than giving it your all, but not as rewarding." - CJ


Just a quick quote today....:-)

Lane Change Ahead

"The best way to overcome the past, is to fill the present with visions of our future." - CJ

It is human nature to re-visit the past, to explore memories - both good and bad. Unfortunately we sometimes we get hung up on those bad things, that darkness of our past. Perhaps we are thinking of past failures and believing that holds the evidence that we will not be able to handle our challenges to come. Or it may be that we dwell on a missed opportunity and it haunts us.

We make mistakes and have things that injure us, it happens to us all but it does not have to rule our destinations. Just think how inspiring it can be to use the lessons of our past to help us toward a better future rather than lock us into a negative outlook. What we need to focus on is the things that we CAN affect, the decisions we make NOW that influence our journey and work on creating a goal that IS within our reach.

On the mistakes we have made, they do not define us. We are all human and have all made mistakes, no one is perfect. You may think that your mistake is bigger than any other or that you are not deserving of another chance. Where would be if everyone embraced that idea? On people who are a part of our past that appear larger that life itself, where is the true value of those past relationships? If it is a hurtful memory then maybe it is time to re frame that time of your life as something that happened, that you were a part of, but something that must dictate who you are and where you are going.

Let us embrace the possibilities of what we can do for ourselves that will in turn enrich the lives of those around us. Let us work on making small changes in the way we see things that will lead to brighter days and healthier living. Let us begin to draw a picture of what we want for our future and make promises to our higher selves to make decisions that will guide us in that direction.

The future can truly be what we make it as we learn to change the negativity of our past associations and consider the strength and power in who we are today.

CJ

You're simply the best

Today I just have a quote of mine I would like to share:

"Though we describe the stars from time to time, it is we who shine the brightest."

Have a spectacular weekend!!
CJ

Strength!

"Every time we get chewed up and spit out is one more time we were not swallowed whole" - CJ

I think this is a great version of the classic saying that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Too often in our daily life we feel assaulted by countless things such job stress, relationship problems, negative people in our life, or rude & obnoxious strangers. We do our best to move along in peace and happiness but sometimes there is just one more thing added to our plate that threatens to send us over the edge.

It is at these times that we should embrace our true inner strength. Even when a challenge seems trivial, if it comes at a moment of already troubled waters you may find yourself in need of drawing on that strength. The power of faith, of character, or love & support from others can be a seemingly endless fountain of strength to us.

Some people depend on their faith to build them up when they face adversities.

• Faith in something bigger than themselves with the understanding that they are not alone in their challenges.
• Faith in a bigger, better plan for their lives knowing that unpleasant times are only temporary.

Others depend on their own character to bring them through the less than happy moments.

• Believing in yourself can be a powerful tool in dealing with moments like that.
• Believing that you are destined for greater things because you know your skills, abilities, and gifts.
• Believing that it is more important to personally honor positivity in almost every situation can help us shake off the negative vibes.

A powerful support system can also make life a lot easier to bear during difficult times.

• The love of family can sustain us through just about anything, knowing that we have family members who care for us and our well being. That love can also translate into more tangible support because in some of our darkest times, family is there.
• The love of a partner can be a very specific source of strength. When we doubt ourselves or feel like the overwhelming tasks are about to crash down upon us, someone who has agreed to walk with us on our journey can reach into our soul and provide us with the energy of love.
• The love of friends is absolutely viable to our lives. To wind down, to vent, or to ask for assistance of some kind is acceptable and expected from those we cherish as friends.

So the world may try to stop you, to hinder your path, or make life seem intolerable but look for your strength. May you find some words of encouragement here and may they enrich your life,

CJ

Welcome!

Welcome to Hopegiver's Path!

In a world where there is way too much negativity in every direction you look, I wanted to have a place where people can stop by and read something positive.

Keep your eye on this space.....:-)