"Baby, slow down.
The end is not as far as the start. Please stay a child somewhere in your heart."

- Bono. U2

Daily Inspiration

Action is worry's worst enemy.
~ English Proverb

The Lord is Risen! Happy Easter!

"The great gift of Easter is hope -Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake."

-Basil C. Hume

Happy Easter to all and may today remind us all of the Hope and Renewal this day represents! 

Renewal of spirit, love, goals and energy!!  Our Lord rose from the dead to renew us and provide us with Hope for the everlasting Joy and happiness we have been given!  Seize it today and remember all of those less fortunate than us today....pray for peace, strength and love!!!

Allelujah!!!

Stay Strong!!!

Happy Holy Saturday!

"What if, by some miracle, this present turned out to be a dream, a hideous nightmare, and we were to awake renewed and cleansed, strong, upright and proud?

Why do we never try to stand again when once we've fallen? When we lose one thing why don't we search for another?

I want our lives to be holy, sublime and solemn as the vault of heaven.

Let us live!

The thief on the cross had hope even though he had less than an hour left to him, and the sun only rises once a day, so take hold of what's left of your life and save it."

     —Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. By way of Whiskey River.

From 12 to 3 pm today....Remember

Good Friday

Today, Good Friday, is a day of sadness for Christians yet a day for thoughtful consideration of what Jesus endured..for US!  

Remember today that out of LOVE He sacrificed his life to give us eternal life!!  And the Resurrection that followed was the ultimate message of Hope and Renewal!!,,

Pray for all of those suffering and in need of spiritual guidance!!,,

Stay Strong!!

Hold the Presses!!! The key to Stopping Worry in your life is HERE!!!

Thanks to my fabulous sister-in-law, I was turned onto an amazing tool to Stop Worrying cold in it's tracks!!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=stop+worrying&x=16&y=17

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie (Oct 5, 2004)

You must pick up this book today if FEAR, ANXIETY, OR WORRY are a part of your life right now!

It is truly an amazing piece of work with practical tips on how to find the Peace you so justly deserve!

It is timeless and priceless for anyone who has let Worry or Fear intrude on their daily lives!

Thank you, Dory!!!

Stay Strong!!!

Hope and Renewal!!!!!!!

Photo courtesy of Robert O'Toole

Hope and Renewal!   Wow -- are those two words that I love to see, love to hear, and love to experience!!!!

Times are tough for all of us!   There is no question about it - no matter your station in life at this given time, things are tough!!

Everyone is struggling!

In this wonderful time of Passover and especially Easter, the words Hope and Renewal take on even greater meaning and weight.

These words symbolize exactly what I believe we are supposed to take away from the story of Jesus and Easter!

Living in a world of violence and attack, especially when times get tough and everyone is battling for survival, we tend to focus on the Crucifixion as the central point of the Easter story.

Jesus is captured, unjustly accused and sentenced to the most brutal of deaths imaginable.  The brutality that He endured is beyond the pale of imagination.

However, what we must focus upon is the TRUE message of Easter -- the Resurrection!!!

THIS is what Easter is --- it is the Rising of Jesus from the dead on the third day - having been brutally murdered and enduring unearthly suffering.

Hope and Renewal!  His rising gave all who believed in Him HOPE and it led to a RENEWAL in Spirit, in life, in purpose and in our destinies!

As a result of this Rising - Jesus has given us all the ability to RENEW our minds, our thoughts, and to take control of our lives -- TODAY!  And because God gave Him over to endure this suffering, thankfully we do not have to undergo the trials and anguish that He experienced FOR US!

One of the most poignant and amazing parts of the Easter story for me occurs in the Garden of Gethsemenae.  Judas has betrayed Jesus to the Roman Soldiers and they are about to take him away to be tried and eventually crucified.

In the words of Matthew:

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.

50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.”6 Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

We all can put ourselves in Peter's (the one who drew his sword to protect Jesus) place as human beings and feel the  blood boiling, and adrenaline flowing. I know I may have done the same thing in protection of one that I loved.  But imagine the restraint and the message that Jesus delivered at that point, in essence  "Do you not think my Father would save me at the slightest request if indeed the lesson was for me to be saved?"

Jesus knew what had to occur and the lessons that would flow from His suffering those next few days still reign and permeate our daily lives to this very day -- Hope and Renewal!!!

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to Hope and to the Renewal of your spirit - it is His job and he awaits the simple request!  It is no more difficult than to simply ask!

Happy Easter all -- please enjoy your lives, your friends and families, and do not take for granted all that we have been given by our Lord! 

We are all Blessed and NEED to remember this fact when times get tough!

Stay Strong!!!

Happy Monday all!!!

Do you want to know who you are?

Don't ask.

Act!

Action will delineate and define you.

-Thomas Jefferson

Live in the present

Q. What surprises you so much about humanity?

A. Man.

Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.

—His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Love and Compassion....There is nothing else we should shoot to master!!

"The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness."
-Dalai Lama

Happy Weekend!!!

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
-Mother Teresa

just saying .....

"Charlie Sheen is 45 and his story is all over the news because he is a substance abuser, an adulterer, and sexually promiscuous.
>>
>>
>> Lindsey Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she's a celebrity drug addict and thief.
>>
>>  
>>
>> While …
>>
>>  
>>
Justin Allen 23,
Brett Linley 29,
Matthew Weikert 29, 
Justus Bartett 27,
Dave Santos 21,
Jesse Reed 26, 
Matthew Johnson 21, 
Zachary Fisher 24, 
Brandon King 23, 
Christopher Goeke 23, and Sheldon Tate 27 …
>>
>>  
>>
>> are all Marines that gave their lives this week for you. 

There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names. 

I'm just saying …..
>>
>>  
>>
>> Honor THEM by sending this on!

Beware!!!!

It is funny.  No matter how strong we build ourselves up mentally, spiritually, psychologically, there are ALWAYS moments of weakness that somehow drift in and we have trouble fighting these off at times.

And that is ok!!

The important thing to always remember when these moments of weakness, melancholy, doubt, fear or anxiety hit us, is that IT WILL NOT LAST if we keep resisting the negative onslaught.

Sure, it is difficult at times to stay strong, to stay positive and upbeat.

It is virtually impossible to maintain that 100 percent of the time!!

Look at it this way ...  life as we know it is strife, life is a challenge or series of challenges that we all must face. Some are dealt a tougher card than others, but we can all agree that life can be a tough road to travel if you do not build the proper infrastructure mentally and spiritually.

And even when we know what we ought to do to fight off the negatives, some slip in inevitably!!

My point is that of we go into this life expecting to be challenged, expecting strife and some hard road, we are better suited to deal with it when the tough times hit!!

And the great strength I draw from all of this is that NOTHING WILL LAST! 

EVERYTHING WILL PASS!

So ride it out!!!  Do not despair and do not let anything overwhelm you!! 

Whatever your strife, if too shall pass!!

I have never felt so strong the past few weeks, but for some reason today I hit a wall of melancholy and some unsettling worry.

Nothing specific but just a general feeling of down.

I have told myself that it will pass and I will regain that feeling of joy, peace and strength. And I will.

If I build up my mind with positives to dwell on and acknowledge that this funk will soon pass, I know I will move past it.

Moods are cyclical, just make sure you remain vigilant about negative thoughts and do not give them any solid ground to take hold in your mind!

It always passes!!!

Stay Strong!!!

MLK....

43 years ago today, a man with a dream of peace and harmony was felled by an assassin's bullet. Martin Luther King, Jr. died that day but his spirit of love, peace, and harmony live on to this day.

Say a prayer today for him and for his messages of peace to continue and finally infect the entire world!

"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illumines it."
-Martin Luther King Jr.

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Strength!

I have never been a huge country music fan, but I happened to catch a live performance by Sara Evans just now on what I assume is the Country Music Awards.

Wow!  

Her song "A little bit Stronger" should be the natural rallying cry for anyone trying to stay strong, struggling with a heartbreak, list love, tragedy or challenge, and/or in dire need of some inspiration.

She nailed the live performance and received a standing ovation from the crowd that seemed to surprise even herself!  

You must put this song on your iPod today!

A Little Bit Stronger lyrics
Songwriters: Barker Aaron Gayle; Harbin Ronald Steven;

Woke up late today and I still feel the sting of the pain
But I brushed my teeth anyway
I got dressed through the mess and put a smile on my face
I got a little bit stronger

Riding in the car to work and I'm trying to ignore the hurt
So I turned on the radio, stupid song made me think of you
I listened to it for minute but I changed it
I'm getting a little bit stronger, just a little bit stronger

And I'm done hoping that we could work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay,
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger

Doesn't happen overnight but you turn around
And a month's gone by and you realize you haven't cried
I'm not giving you a hour or a second or another minute longer
I'm busy getting stronger

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking, that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger
I get a little bit stronger

Getting along without you, baby
I'm better off without you, baby
How does it feel without me, baby?
I'm getting stronger without you, baby

And I'm done hoping we could work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger

I get a little bit stronger
Just a little bit stronger
A little bit, a little bit, a little bit stronger
I get a little bit stronger

Sent from my iPad

Let life unfold and go with confidence and Faith!!

"Resistance creates suffering. Stress happens when your mind resists what is... The only problem in your life is your mind's resistance to life as it unfolds."
-Dan Millman

Remember this!!! Stop worrying and have Faith that it will alll be ok!!!

There is nothing that wastes the body like worry, and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever.

-Mohandas Gandhi