Your backpack

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Your backpack

How much does your backpack weigh?
Imagine having a backpack on your back and you start loading things in it.

Your backpack

Depending on what you are doing and for how long; dictates what you are going to load. Be it backpacking, hiking, walking, school, work, picnic, and so forth. Each task requires different things and amounts, and that can lead to a very heavy backpack.

The same holds true for your everyday life.
Imagine putting on a backpack and loading it with daily things. From your personal and professional life, family life, friends, neighbors, community, schools, activities, events, church, health, chores and trying to work in some time for rest.

You have to load your backpack light as if you were going on a week-long backpacking trip in the mountains. The exception is; load your backpack with only what you need.

Your daily life is the same. Pack for what you need. It is ok to not be able to get everything done and have to shift things to the next day; or the weekend. If you load your backpack full; it will be heavy, hard to carry and tiring.

Understanding that not everything is a priority, and that it is perfectly fine to let things that are not urgent wait.

Check your backpack in the morning and empty out the unnecessary stuff. Release those burdens to the Lord, and let him guide your way. Never overload yourself, never stop, and never give up. Carry only the burdens that you need.

Psalms 68:19 NIV
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Needs

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What are your needs?

Needs

Most of the time; our needs and our wants are two separate items. There are times that our needs and wants are the same; but for the most part they generally are not.

We have desires for things that enhance our lives; but they are not essentials to survive in our lives. Our minds seemingly convince us that we have to have them to live.

We desire a new TV, a swimming pool, a fishing rod, an outdoor kitchen, and so on; but all those things are not the items for our existance.

The realistic needs are; shelter, food, water, clothes, some sort of transportation to get around, a job; to bring in money to pay for it all and survive. But all of these needs can be basic, minimal, and far from luxurious. Just enough to get by on.

Then there are mental needs; such as friendships, companionships, spiritual, support, and love. These are the needs that keep up the sanity, help avoid depression, and bring happiness and comfort.

There are so many needs and desires that we want in our life. The most important part; is to understand what is a need and what is a desire.

Having faith and trusting that all your needs will be met; is a blessing from above.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Life is like a box of chocolates

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As Forrest Gump said; Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what your going to get.

Life is like a box of Chocolates

Those words ring very true in life. You never know what you will get from one day to the next.

Everyday seemingly starts the same, and may seem like any other day; but in the blink of an eye; it can all change just that fast. A bad day can turn out amazing and and amazing day can turn dark fast.

So; eat up and savor every moment that life has to offer.

Opportunity

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Opportunity is a beautiful thing when taken.

Opportunity

When someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient?

If they prayed for courage, do you think God gave them courage? Or do you think He gives them the opportunity to be courageous?

If they prayed for the family to be closer, do you think he gives them warm fuzzy feelings? Or does God give them the opportunity to love one another.

The best gifts given in life are the opportunities that we have to explore and learn on our own. Be thankful for the ability given to us to learn daily and cherish those the blessings forever.

Have you taken your opportunities lately?

Proverbs 3:13 NIV
Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

Your past

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Your past is important to remember; but not always a place to dwell on or live in.

Your past

The past is a very important part of our lives. There are parts that are good, parts that are not so good, wonderful things that were learned; mistakes that were made, friends, experiences, and events that happened on your journey.

There were all kinds of things and people that happened along the way; crossing our paths for one reason or another. Some were temporary, some lasting for years, some for a moment in a time; some that were meant to help with something, and some that were meant to last a lifetime.

Things happen in our lives that change us, make us better, stronger, wiser, wealthier, and even more humble. These are the things that you can never forget; as they helped to make you who you are today.

Never forget where you came from. That past is what helped to get you where you are today and make you who you are today.

God created us in his own image, and exactly like he wanted; building our character is up to us. Learn from your past, and count your blessings everyday for them.

Let your past make you better; not bitter, and never forget those who helped along the way.

Genesis 1:27 NIV
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Fires

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Fires are a very dangerous element.

Fires

They can consume a building, a house or a forest, and other things fast. All they need are the three elements; fuel, oxygen and heat in the right amount of mixture; and is is going. Remove one element and it is out.

Most fires can be contained and put out in a timely fashion, and then there are those; like a forest fire; that can roar out of control, destroying everything in its path.

Just like those fires ; people have fires in their personal lives that need controlling and put out. Some are small and can be extinguished in no time; then there are those that burn out of control, seemingly consuming us.

Recognizing the elements that create these little fires in your life; can help control some of them; by putting them out before they ever get started. Having a plan in your life on how to deal with certain things that create these fires will help.

Learning and growing from those fires makes us stronger, wiser and more prepared for future fires. The lessons learned along the way; are tomorrows gifts and blessings.

Be a firefighter and learn to put out the fires in your life; reap the peace and the blessings along the way.

Scars

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Scars are a part of everyone’s life.

Scars

So many different things happen in peoples lives that make it difficult for them to get past and let go of. The list is long; from personal, to professional, hurt, from others, to the loss of loved ones and everything in between.

It takes a lot of work, prayer, counseling for some, meditation, self-help, and determination to overcome it all. The healing process can be long as well.

In the mix of it all; there are blessings to be found from the growth, learning, and the scars. The release of the past is liberating, and the freshness of a new start is rejuvenating.

Let go of the past; let the Lord heal your heart, count your blessings, and enjoy the start of your new journey in life.

Psalms 25:17 NIV
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

Ton of bricks

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You know the old saying ” That hit me like a ton of bricks”.

Ton of Bricks

Do you ever feel like you a ton of bricks fell on your head? Have you had something hit you so hard; that it felt as if that ton of bricks did fall on your head?

Many have something like that happen to them all the time. Sometimes it is a major incidence, something that is so very dramatic that it almost takes your breath away.

Then there are those times it is very small, an event, an action, a thought, something that can be overlooked so easily; or even a subtle hint from someone that we did not pay attention to.

In any case; it might make you stagger; as if you just had a ton of bricks really fall on your head, leaving you feeling stunned and even emotional. Some need that occasional ton of bricks to fall on them; so they may realize what they missed or maybe ignored.

The lessons to be learned in the midst of all of it, and the growth that we receive while recovering from it; is worth every bit of that feeling.

Be thankful for that occasional ton of bricks; it is not always a bad thing. It helps us to see what we may want to ignore.

Count your bricks and be thankful for the blessings poured out on you.