Decisions, decisions

v  I’m going to be a better person

v  I’m going to stop drinking and smoking

v  I’m going back to school

v  I’m going to stop lying, especially to myself

v  I’m going to do my best

v  I’m going to stop being unfaithful to my spouse

v  I’m going to leave my abusive partner

v  I’m going to spend more time with my children

v  I’m going to seek a better relationship with God

v  I’m going to stop making false promises

v  I’m going to start saving money and stop spending carelessly

v  I’m going to take better care of myself

“Talk is cheap.”  Cliché ? Perhaps, but true nonetheless. When people make a decision, that decision does not go into full swing until they act upon it.  This idea has the same concept as “faith without works is dead” (James 2:2).  You can have all the faith in the world but until you put that faith into action and see results, it is meaningless.  A decision without action is dead; it does not matter, it does not exist.  Stop talking and begin taking action to see results.

"Remember, a real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken new action.

If  there's no action, you haven't truly decided." - Tony Robbins

By Xela (7.31.11)

Listen to your father...

"Listen to your father, who gave you life,


and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Buy the truth and do not sell it—

wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

The father of a righteous child has great joy;

a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

May your father and mother rejoice;

may she who gave you birth be joyful! "


(Proverbs 23:22-25)
 

Happy 39th Wedding Anniversary, Mom & Dad...xoxoxoxo (infinity & beyond)

My mother & father may not BE (together) right now but they WERE (together) for 38 1/2 + years. My dad left with the Lord on March 19th, 2011. My parents were a great example of LOVE, commitment and marriage to many people. No relationship is perfect, no one is perfect. My parents went through struggles like any other relationship. However, they remained committed to one another, through good and bad, through wealth and poverty, and in SICKNESS and in HEALTH. In the process, they made one another happy and supported one another. They were glad to be with each other, made each other laugh and communicated with with minimal of words; they were truly one.


THAT is love.

Mom & Dad: Today, on what would have been your 39th wedding anniversary, I thank you both for all you have done for me. I thank you both for all you have done for my siblings and for many others. I celebrate this day despite dad's absence on this earth because he is still very much present in my heart and will always be. I love you, Mom & Dad, for being a great example to all; an example of what love truly is. I mean that with all that I am. Mom, you are all that I have left. You are my best friend, my side-kick and my biggest cheerleader. Words cannot express what you mean to me.

Dad: You may not be here physically, but I feel you every single day.
Your gentle, soft-spoken ways have left a loud and a thunderous impact on my life. I love you tremendously.
Love,
Belinda

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad:

(Proverbs 30:18-19)

“There are three things that are too amazing for me,

four that I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a young woman.



(Proverbios 30:18-19)

Tres cosas me son ocultas,

y una cuarta tampoco conozco:

el rastro del águila en el aire,

el rastro de la culebra sobre la peña,

el rastro de la nave en medio del mar

y el rastro del hombre en la muchacha



(Song of Solomon 6:3)

I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine:



(Cantares 6:3)

¡Yo soy de mi amado, y mi amado es mío!

To love is to live. To hate is to die.

When you love a tremendous amount or you love many people, you are living. That is LIFE. However, when you hate just a little bit or hate even just one person, you DIE that much; imagine how much more you would die if you hated more people or hated one person a lot.
There are many circumstances where we as people are faced with things that we have no control over that affect us in a negative way. Some of those circumstances cause us to question the motives of other people. Often times other people’s decisions affect us tremendously and will haunt us for the rest of our lives.

Do not hate anyone for what you had or have no control over (or have yet to have control over). If you truly had no control over a situation, then it was meant to be that way. You cannot do anything about it now. What is done, is done; it is over. What happens now going forward, now that you may have some control over certain things, is what truly matters. This is where you need to be careful. The pain, the hurt and even the resentment is real and very valid in your heart, mind and soul; that is very visible to God. It does not go unseen. Bring that to God. Bring that pain, that confusion, that desire to want to hate anyone to God. Do not allow yourself to be a vessel of hatred but rather continue to be a loving, caring person, just as you have been all your life. This unfortunate circumstance does not make or break you. Yes, it may be a dent in your being but this will make you stronger. You have the opportunity to set things straight on many levels, in different ways.

Whatever evil motive, greedy motive or unknown motive an individual had (or has) that altered (or may alter) your life, may cause you to go into a tailspin if you allow hatred to grow in your heart. That individual will have to answer for his or her own actions. Do not give more power to that which has already caused you pain by breeding hatred within yourself. Instead, pray. Pray for yourself, pray for that person and pray for those that may be affected one way or another. I purposely put “pray for yourself” first because if you are not in the right mind, you cannot even bring yourself to pray for anyone else. Pray that your heart has no room for hatred but rather that only love breed there, because if you invite hate, you will die, even if you are still walking this earth. If you love, love with be with you forever.

No one is perfect. Not the victims of unfortunate situations and definitely not those that do wrong to others. Yet, much can be said about a person in the way he or she reacts to their own mistakes and to the mistakes that others make. Are you an accuser ? Are you humble ? Do you forgive ? Do you hold grudges ? Are you truly sorry ?

Life is hard. We do not know what we will be faced with tomorrow but we can make a decision today, at this moment, about who we will trust: God or the enemy. Make a decision about who we want to be for ourselves and for those we love.

There is nothing new under the sun. God sees all and has seen it all. Therefore, do not be ashamed to bring whatever is troubling you to him; whether you are the victim or the one committing the crime…

Ecclesiastes 1:9

“What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.”



Bring it to Him…

(inspired by a friend's story)

Testimony of Abortion Survivor (Part I & II)

Photo and Scriptures

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

A Day Like Today (for my son)

(I wrote this back in May, 2010)


A day like today, almost 17 years ago, I was only 19 years old. I was about to become a mother for the first time, a single, unwed mother.




A day like today, I was experiencing contractions and had been for several days but I had no idea; I just knew that I was feeling major discomfort.

If you've never failed, you've never lived !

Click here to see this great, short video

The Right & Wrong of It All by T.D. Jakes

Click here to see short message "The Right & Wrong of It All, Part I"

Today's Quote

“Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The LEGACY we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.”

(Billy Graham)

Live like you're dying

Although the movie, The Time Traveler's Wife, is a little too weird for my taste, I can still see a good message in there somewhere. The whole time traveling idea is not all that realistic to me. However, for me, the movie is a reminder of how we should appreciate every second of life and appreciate the people in our lives.

Excuse me, but you have a TREE coming out of your eye !

I remember being a teenager in a bad relationship. That "on-again/off-again"

relationship lasted well into my adulthood.  I could not seem to

"shake it off" even though I knew it would never go anywhere (which it did

not). I did so many things to "make it work". I made a fool of myself

repeatedly for the sake of "love". I did not have enough respect for

myself as a woman to know that I was much more valuable than I was

being treated or much more valuable than I thought myself to be.

Reality Shows determined to ruin relationships (among other things)

So, I have noticed that some of these reality shows are now motivated by the need to break up couples. Let's take the show Big Brother for instance. In season 11, Jordan was the winner with the help of Jeff; Jeff and Jordan developed a "showmance". Now in season 12, everyone is determined to break up any "shomances" that are developing to avoid them from getting further in the competition. Ok now, let's take the show Bachelor Pad; same thing. These people seem to also know that the developing of relationships will increase couples chances of winning so everyone else in the house is basically voting off one of the couples to break them up; basically destroying "an alliance". It has gotten to the point where couples have had to lie about being together in order to avoid being split up by the rest of the house guests/mates.


Maybe I'm reading too much into this but I see a problem with this. I mean, if I want to get even more "technical" I see a problem with reality shows PERIOD and these people sleeping around but I am not getting into that right now (one thing at a time).

Chariots of Fire: A classic film that I finally saw for the first time

Yesterday I saw the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire for the first time in my life. The movie is a true story based on the lives of two men who competed in the 1924 Olympics representing Great Britain. Chariots of Fire won four Academy Awards including Best Picture. The title of the movie was inspired by a William Blake poem titled Jerusalem, which was inspired by the Holy Bible.

When Chariots of Fire first came out in 1981, I was only seven years old. Although I never had the opportunity to see the film, the movie's titled song (by the same name) always moved me. I remember watching commercials about the movie and being mesmerized by the titled song. As a child I did not know what the film was about; I had an idea but I was not sure. I simply remember hearing the soft, melodic, instrumental music and seeing men run on the beach whenever I saw the movie being promoted on television. Yet, without having any knowledge of the film, I was already touched by it and this would stay with me forever. So here I am, 30 years later watching the film for the very first time. In a way, I am glad that I waited; I am able to appreciate it more at this moment in my life than I probably would have at any other time.

FAITH IN ACTION

"Faith can move mountains,

but don't be surprised if God hands you a shovel." ~

(Author Unknown) 

 "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by ACTION, is dead."~ (Holy Bible, James 2:17)

In other words, stop complaining,

get off your "hiney" & get'er done !

If "it's" meant to be, God will "have your back"

but you will never know unless you try !

Happy Friday, y'all ! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ [=

~ Xela

The Meaning of Life

Click here to see short video

‎"In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we're pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker's praise without anxiety." ~

A.W. Towzer

No better time than the present

Yesterday I "stumbled" across this article and I have to say that although it is very simple and it contains some typographical and sentence structure errors, it is, in my opinion, a very good article.

No better time than the present by Myrtis Smith

Through my studies, I've been introduced to the concept that the "Present is Perfect." The idea is that no mater what is going on in your life right now, this is how it is suppose to be and it is perfect. Everything that has happened in your life up until now has brought you to this moment for a reason. The past is lost; you can't do anything about things that have happened yesterday. The future is completely unknown and the only control you have over tomorrow is the action you take today.



This is a difficult concept for most to grasp. We spend so much time reliving the past and worrying about the future that we don't focus much on the present. We waste away our time dreaming of a different life. What if I had attended another college? What if I had married a different person? What if I had taken that job in another city? Or even worse we spend our lives looking forward to the future, not enjoying the here and now. Parents are a good example of this. I can't wait until the baby comes. I can't wait until he’s walking. I can't wait until he's out of diapers. I can't wait until he's in school all day. I can't wait until he's driving. The next thing you know, your child is going off to college and you're wondering where did all the time go.



I recently had an opportunity to practice this idea on a week long vacation my husband and I took. Everyday, I made a conscious effort to enjoy the moment we were in. I didn't worry about the things I left behind at home and I didn't worry about what I was going to do once I got back home. We even went so far as to not plan what we were going to do day to day. We enjoyed walks along the beach, driving through a strange city, and just sitting by the pool reading. It was the most relaxing vacation I've ever had and it felt like we were gone for a very, very long time. THAT is the power of living in the present.



Here is an exercise for you to try. Periodically through out the day, take a check of what you've been thinking about. How much time do you spend reminiscing (or regretting) about the past?



How much time do you spend planning or worrying about the future? How often do you get totally absorbed in the moment: the here and now? Begin by making an effort to keep your thoughts focused on the present because it truly is perfect.
=======================================

NOTE: The following information must be included if you reprint this article:

© Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved


Myrtis Smith is the founder of Premeditated Life. At Premeditated Life we have one focus - Your Career. As a career coach I offer a variety of services designed to improve your professional skills, support you in your career goals and transitions, and empower your job search. For a FREE Career Assessment contact us at: coaching@premeditatedlife.com



http://www.premeditatedlife.com .....because life doesn't just happen!

STILL I RISE by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.


Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.


Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.


Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.


Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.


You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.


Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame - I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain - I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.


Leaving behind nights of terror and fear - I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear - I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise


I rise


I rise.


Written by Maya Angelou

The TRUTH is that you're only LYING to yourself

I want someone to please enlighten me about how these celebrities who are either caught cheating or find themselves in trouble with the law suddenly want to be viewed as the victims because of their difficult or "rough childhood". Don't get me wrong, I'm the first one to say: "Leave the celebrities alone because they are human and make mistakes just like everyone else". The only difference is that their mishaps are broadcasted on national television unlike ours, unless you have friends or family who can spread news faster than CNN.

HOWEVER, I wonder if some of these celebrities simply use their "rough upbringings" as an excuse to gain sympathy from the world. They seemed healthy, happy and with the ability to function like normal people prior to their errors being televised. They seemed to be enjoying all the luxuries and privileges that they have without any problem before getting busted...they were enjoying life to the fullest ! No signs of "childhood scars" to be seen for miles or is it that they cry and suffer about it in private ?? Hmmmm, somehow I can't picture that.

In the midst of their ongoing partying, traveling the world in yachts and spending cash on tiaras for their dogs, I highly doubt that they were thinking about their alleged "rough childhood". Or was the excess and unnecessary spending an obvious cry for help ? Is that what your energist told you ????

"LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER" by Roald Dahl has lessons to be learned

Click here to read classic short story if you are not familiar with it

Although this classic literary work seems too dark for some, it shows some good examples of irony and black comedy.  The Holy Bible reflects the following prophecy about Jesus Christ:

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. ~~ Isaiah 53:7

In Christianity, Jesus is referred to the Lamb of God.  He came to this earth and died so that people may be saved. His resurrection opened the path to heaven for those that acknowledge and follow Him.  The above passage indicates that he was "led like a lamb to the slaughter"; He was literally slaughtered for humankind. He was betrayed and deceived, as most trusting lambs are. That is not to say that Jesus was naive or did not anticipate his death, but rather that He came here with a purpose and with much love and peace.  Lambs are characterized as peaceful and Jesus is the epitome of peace. This passage also indicates that "he did not open his mouth", meaning He did not protest. He was willing to be the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity.  This is a little different from the classic short story by Roald Dahl but to me the trusting factor is shared by both.