Easter....

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"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."

    - Helen Keller

Without some amount of trial and suffering in our lives, we as human beings cannot fully reach the depths of our character.

Despite the imagery of what the media, commercials and magazines bombard us with constantly,  life is a mix of good with the bad and to believe that we can - or SHOULD - escape it is a pipe dream!

We cannot elude it - but we CAN use it to our advantage as we build our own identity and character - and by helping others who are in the midst of their own battles!!!

When the storm comes, do not cower and do not let it overwhelm you!

Embrace and accept the storms - the rewards for sticking it out are too numerous to count!!

You are not alone in your battle!

Be resolute in FAITH that the current storm will pass and we will all be stronger and better equipped for the next challenge that will inevitably rear it's head!!!

Even the most devastating and horrific storms pass!! 

This is a fact!!

And we pick up the pieces and move forward!

Give thanks today for your many blessings that far outweigh any storm you are in the midst of today,  and remain focused on the calm and peace that awaits you as the storm subsides!

Stay Strong!

Blessings

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not,
but rejoices for those which he has."
- Epictetus

It is good practice to start your day with a recitation of all of your blessings and gifts on this earth!

One of the most vexing and frustrating aspects of life on this earth is that we do not know what we truly have until we don't have it any longer.

Sure it is possible to put ourselves in that spot mentally in order to feel the pain that comes from regret - but most of us do not really ever go there until it is too late - and we have no choice but to endure it!

Today is as good a time as any to start a new discipline: 

Every morning upon waking give thanks for the mere fact alone that we even woke up, that we can get out of bed, that we ALL are capable of acting and creating your own opportunities and re - inventing our existence!

What is important to you in this short time on this earth?

Are you doing what is important to you? 

If so - Terrific and keep doing it!

If not - why not and more importantly - WHAT STEPS DO WE NEED TO TAKE TO MAKE IT SO?

What is the FIRST step??

In addition to giving thanks for all we do have - and we ALL have way way more than we ever recognize or can imagine - Count your blessings, LITERALLY!

Our brains are inclined to constantly dwell on the negatives in our lives and the things we do not have - CHANGE THAT wiring and do the opposite every single morning!

Why not give it a shot today?

What do you have to lose?

Stay Strong!

Re: Prisoners of Hope

"Is today the day for you to accomplish your goal, to land your dream job, to find love, to restore your health?
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> You are closer than you think to a better life, a richer relationship, a healthier body.
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> Rewards await you if you stay steadfast in your faith.
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> Don't let doubters ruin your optimistic spirit.
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> If somebody says to you, "What is it with you? What makes you think everything will work out? Do you really believe you will always succeed?"
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> Just tell the doubters: "I don't think it will happen. I know it will happen! I'm a prisoner of hope. I can't get away from it. I just can't make myself get negative. I just can't make myself complain. Hope feeds my faith and lifts my spirits."
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> The doubters may say, "Well, I don't know why. I saw the medical report. It doesn't look good for you."
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> "Yes, but I have another report," you can tell them. "It says God is restoring health back unto me."
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> "Well, I saw your child. I don't think he'll ever do what's right." "Really? I have another report. It says as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
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> You may not see any of this in the natural. It may not look like it will come to pass. But that's okay.
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> The Scripture says, "We walk by faith and not by sight." That means we don't have to see it to believe it. It's just the opposite. If we believe it, then we see it.
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> Take your dreams and the promises God has put in your heart and every day declare that they will come to pass.
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> Just say something like, "Father, I want to thank You that my payday is coming.
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> You said no good thing will You withhold, because I walk uprightly.
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> And I believe even right now You are arranging things in my favor."
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> Are you a prisoner of fear? Worry? Self-pity? Negativity?
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> Break those chains and become a prisoner of hope.
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> Expect God's favor.
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> Believe that He is working in your life, even right now.
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> God has put dreams and desires in your heart.
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> We all have goals we want to accomplish and situations we believe we will turn around.
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> But often when it's taking a long time and things are not working out, it's easy to lose our enthusiasm. That's when the negative thoughts come, saying:
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> It never will change.
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> You never will get well.
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> You never will climb out of debt.
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> That child never will straighten up.
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> If you listen to those negative thoughts, you will likely become discouraged and give up on your dreams.
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> Many times we miss out on God's best because we give up too soon.
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> We don't realize how close we are to victory.
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> Hold on to your faith.
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> Another few days of believing, another few weeks of doing the right thing, or another few months of staying in faith and you will see that promise come to pass.
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> Right now, you are so close to seeing that situation turn around.
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> That answer you've been praying about is just right around the corner. You can't afford to get discouraged. You can't afford to give up now."
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> - Joel Osteen
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> Stay Strong!!

Happy Spring!

Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me confidence. — Ps 62:5

Our too general neglect of looking for answers to what we ask, shows how little we are in earnest in our petitions. A husbandman is not content without the harvest; a marksman will observe whether the ball hits the target; a physician watches the effect of the medicine which he gives; and shall the Christian be careless about the effect of his labor?

Every prayer of the Christian, made in faith, according to the will of God, for which God has promised, offered up in the name of Jesus Christ, and under the influence of the Spirit, whether for temporal or for spiritual blessings, is, or will be, fully answered.

God ALWAYS answers the general design and intention of His people's prayers, in doing that which, all things considered, is most for His own glory and their spiritual and eternal welfare.
As we never find that Jesus Christ rejected a single supplicant who came to Him for mercy, so we believe that no prayer made in His name will be in vain.

The answer to prayer may be approaching, though we discern not its coming.

The seed that lies under ground in winter is taking root in order to a SPRING and harvest, though it appears not above ground, but seems dead and lost.
    —Bickersteth

Hang in there!

Winter is waning and you have almost made it through!

Let us use the first day of Spring today as a rebirth and starting point for all that lies in store for us from this day forward- peace, joy, hope and love!

A new mental outlook, a change in attitude, a new and fresh approach to all we encounter and plan to accomplish!

Ask for it sincerely and you will receive it!

Stay Strong! !! 

Inward

Paganini, the great violinist, came out before his audience one day and made the discovery just as they ended their applause that there was something wrong with his violin. He looked at it a second and then saw that it was not his famous and valuable one.

He felt paralyzed for a moment, then turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin.

He stepped back behind the curtain thinking that it was still where he had left it, but discovered that some one had stolen his and left that old second-hand one in its place.

He remained back of the curtain a moment, then came out before his audience and said:

"Ladies and Gentlemen: I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul."

And he played as he had never played before; and out of that second-hand instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enraptured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building, because the man had revealed to them that music was not in the machine but in his own soul.

It is your mission to walk out on the stage of this world and reveal to all earth and Heaven that the music is NOT in conditions, NOT in the things, NOT in externals, but the music of life is in your OWN SOUL.

-- Streams in the Desert

Tempest

"The main thing is to suffer without becoming discouraged."

     -  François Fénelon

We all suffer.

Some have more suffering in their lives than others, some have less.

Some have greater degrees of suffering than others and make our daily issues look like blessings.

To quote one of my all-time favorite movies,  "The Princess Bride";

"Life is pain, Highness.  Anyone who tells you differently is selling you something."

We cannot avoid pain and suffering in this life and the sooner that we can grasp this and accept our struggles, trials,  challenges as they arise,  the more peace and fulfillment we will experience.

The key is indeed to not become discouraged as we fight these battles and push forward!!!

No matter our current circumstance - no matter what it is we are facing this very moment -  if we can remain hopeful, faithful, and do not allow ourselves an ounce of discouragement or quit - whatever we are undergoing will surely pass!!!

Persevere - with courage and faith that you are EXACTLY where you are meant to be at this very moment - and know that whatever your struggle it is merely temporary!!!!

The best is yet to come if we promise ourselves that no matter how rough the seas get or how strong the current may seem to be against us - NOTHING CAN DEFEAT US if we persevere - if we resolve to never quit - and if we TRUST  and BELIEVE that this test of our strength and faith will not only pass, but it will also take us to much higher ground and one giant leap closer to peace and joy!!

You are not alone in your strife and trials - so put your head down and keep charging forward - never doubting the reward and prize that awaits us as we overcome and persevere through this current, temporary Tempest!

Stay STRONG! !!